LI Man Shot Woman Through Car Window, Paralyzing Her: DA

GREENLAWN, NY — A Greenlawn man accused of shooting the mother of his children at close range, paralyzing her, has been indicted on attempted murder and other charges, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said Tuesday.

Eric Whilby, 37, was indicted on charges of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, prosecutors said.

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Whilby and the woman were living together with their children, ages 9 and 11, as well as the woman’s mother, brother and sister, prosecutors said.

Just before 1 a.m. June 4, the woman returned home and learned Whilby was upset that she did not come home right after work, prosecutors said. As the woman began driving toward a nearby park to meet her sister, Whilby ran up to her vehicle and shot her through the window at close range, prosecutors said.

The bullet entered the woman’s left shoulder and traveled into her spinal cord, prosecutors said.

The woman’s sister, who was on the phone with her at the time, heard the woman scream and heard the gunshot, prosecutors said. The sister and her friend, who were nearby, saw Whilby drive away from the scene in a 2017 white Honda CR-V, prosecutors said.

The woman was taken to a local hospital, where she is recovering from her injuries, prosecutors said.

Whilby fled Suffolk County and was later spotted by New York State Police while driving in Westchester County, prosecutors said. He led state police on a pursuit before jumping out of his vehicle and running away on foot, prosecutors said.

Law enforcement chased Whilby across elementary school grounds in New Rochelle while the school’s Field Day was underway, prosecutors said. Investigators recovered the gun they say was used in the shooting from a wooded area near the school, prosecutors said.

Whilby was arraigned Monday before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven Pilewski, who ordered him remanded during the pendency of the case, prosecutors said.

Whilby is due back in court Aug. 5. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count, prosecutors said.

He is being represented by Sean Dixon, who was not immediately available to comment.

“The defendant allegedly shot the victim who is now recovering from very serious, life-altering injuries,” Tierney said in a news release. “I thank all of the law enforcement agencies that assisted in apprehending this defendant and bringing him to justice. This is a sobering incident of alleged domestic violence, and my office will handle it with the seriousness that it deserves.”