DEER PARK, NY — A West Babylon man has been charged with murder in connection with a fatal robbery and beating that killed a Deer Park man in December 2024, according to Suffolk County police.
Jason Buttchampagne, 25, was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery for assaulting and robbing Donald Klune in Deer Park on Dec. 11, 2024, police said.
According to police, Klune, 65, of Deer Park, was sitting in his 2009 Mitsubishi on Brook Avenue around 8:35 p.m. when he was approached by at least one person, forcibly removed from the vehicle, punched, and kicked.
Police said the suspect or suspects fled the scene in Klune’s vehicle following the assault.
Klune was transported to a local hospital, where he died on Dec. 13, police said.
Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives investigated the case following the attack.
Police said Monday that Buttchampagne had been arrested in connection with the incident. He was being held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday at First District Court in Central Islip.
It was not immediately clear on Monday whether Buttchampagne had retained an attorney.
Detectives are continuing to ask anyone with information about the case to contact the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 or Suffolk County Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-220-TIPS.
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