Rapper 'Stew Deez' Fired Gun Into Air Outside The Emporium: Police

PATCHOGUE, NY - A rapper on a national tour with Grammy-winning hip-hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony was arrested after Suffolk Police say he fired a gun into the air during a fight outside The Emporium in Patchogue early Friday morning.

Steward Howse, better known as “Stew Deez,” is charged with second degree reckless endangerment and second degree criminal possession of a weapon.

According to police, officers responded to a call of people fighting outside The Emporium, located at 9 Railroad Avenue, after a performance by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

Responding units heard gunshots while responding and found a large crowd dispersing from the area around 2:30 a.m., police said. No injuries were reported to police and a check of area hospitals turned up no leads, police said.

After an investigation, Fifth Squad detectives arrested 33-year-old Howse, of Cleveland, Ohio, at about 4:35 p.m. Friday.

Howse had performed at The Emporium Friday night before Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and is traveling with the group on a national tour, police said. Howse’s two brothers are members of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

Howse is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Saturday.

The Emporium has drawn big-name artists to downtown Patchogue since opening in 2012 and it routinely brings in crowds from across Long Island. But the nightlife venue remains controversial among local residents, some of whom believe The Emporium does more harm than good for Patchogue.

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