Crime & Safety

Police: Shootings Are Gang Related

Suffolk County Police Department is continuing investigation of nearby shootings.

Three shootings in a neighborhood of West Babylon in the past month are all gang related, including one that killed a North Babylon student, according to Inspector Gerard Gigante of the Suffolk County Police Department First Precinct.

The three shootings, which occured on August 26th, September 17th and September 26th, are all related to increased gang activity in the area, Gigante told the crowd at a public Community Meeting on Oct. 4.

The shootings have taken place in a neighborhood that borders Wyandanch and the Southern State Parkway near Centerwood Avenue. Most of the area, however, is within the boundaries of the North Babylon School District.

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The three shootings have resulted in the death of one young man and two other injured men.

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On August 26th, 18-year-old Rashad Capers was gunned down outside of a party on St. John Place. He died shortly after on Centerwood Street while struggling back to his home on that street.

On Sept. 17, Stephon Washington, 22, of Wheatley Heights, was hit in a drive-by shooting by shrapnel and suffered a deep cut in his leg. He was transported to a nearby hospital and recovered.

On Sept. 26, Malik Taylor, 19 was hit in the abdoman and leg in another drive-by shooting. He was air-lifted to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was listed in serious condition.

Suffolk County Police are still on the search for information and ask resident to contact the First Squad at 631-854-8152 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS with any tips or leads.


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