PD: Fireworks To Blame For Some ‘Gunfire’ Scares In Huntington Station
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Police recently reported that they have strong evidence that fireworks are to blame for recent suspected gunfire sounds Huntington Station residents have heard (Photo / Google Maps).
The Second Precinct’s top cop reassured weary Huntington Station residents that the loud bangs they have heard in recent weeks have not been gunshots – but instead are the work of a fireworks-happy culprit.
Despite skepticism from some, Second Precinct Inspector Edward Brady said police have strong evidence that fireworks are to blame for the recent scares, which have resulted in the Facebook pages of parent and community groups for Huntington Station residents being peppered with reports of suspected gunfire in recent weeks.
“We found a milk crate… The box had 36 positions for mortars, and that’s what was activated… It had wires running to it so it could be set off electronically,” Brady said. “We had other people call up and say it was definitely fireworks because they definitely saw the sparkle set off into the sky. They saw the display, as it were.”
He said ShotSpotter, an acoustic, triangulating gunshot detection system, was activated by the fireworks.
Brady revealed this information during the police department’s monthly community meeting at the South Huntington Public Library Nov. 19.
During that meeting, he added that cops have been “staking out certain areas” near Pulaski and Depot Roads in search of the culprit, who “decided he’s going to set off fireworks at about 5:15 a.m.”
Brady said it’s “probably happened at least five times,” typically on Tuesday nights.
Residents at the meeting told Brady that they’re also going off at different times and in different locations.
Huntington Station has been on edge since the stabbing death of Maggie Rosales, a Walt Whitman High School senior, on Oct. 12. The unease was intensified by a gunfire incident Nov. 3 outside of 50 Wyman Ave.
