New Castle Releases Details on Chappaqua Deli Shooting

CHAPPAQUA, NY — New Castle officials sent out this update Tuesday evening about the shooting in Chappaqua that injured two people. The attacker is alleged to be a fired medical researcher and colleague of one of the victims.

Yesterday morning, the New Castle Police responded to a report of shots fired in the area of Lange's Little Store & Delicatessen in Chappaqua. Responding officers found two victims with gunshot wounds. One victim, Dennis Charney of Chappaqua, was shot as he walked on the sidewalk after leaving The Little Store Deli. A second victim, another resident of Chappaqua, was hit by shotgun shot that passed through the front window of the deli.
Both victims were transported to Westchester Medical Center by the Chappaqua Ambulance Corp. Mr. Charney is receiving treatment for non-life threatening injuries. The second victim was treated and released.
The suspect, Hengjun Chao 49 of Tuckahoe NY, was located in a parking lot across the street from the shooting. New Castle Police recovered a loaded Mossberg 500 shotgun in Chao’s vehicle.
Hengjun Chao was arrested without incident. He has been charged with Attempted Murder 2nd Degree, a class A1 Felony. Chao was arraigned by New Castle Justice Noah Sorkin and was remanded to Westchester County Jail without bail. He is due back in New Castle Justice Court onSeptember 7th at 10am. Preliminary investigation indicates that Charney is known to Chao and was the intended victim of the shooting.
There is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the New Castle Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to call the New Castle Police Detective Division at 914‐238‐ 7295, or the main desk at 914‐238‐4423.
New Castle Supervisor Rob Greenstein stated "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims who were involved in the shooting. No town is immune from gun violence. Here we are. It happened here. I would like to commend the New Castle Police Department for apprehending the shooter so quickly and without further incident. This was far from a routine call but everyday our officers put their lives on the line to protect us and they deserve our thanks and support."

SEE:

• Chappaqua Doctor was Deli Shooter's Intended Target
  
• UPDATE: Chappaqua Shooting Suspect in Custody
  

PHOTOS/ town of New Castle