Woman Shot During Road Rage Incident on Sunrise Highway

EAST PATCHOGUE, NY - A minivan driver fired two shots into a car in East Patchogue Monday night, striking a woman inside as an 11-week-old baby rode in the back seat of the car, police said.

The road rage incident occurred on westbound Sunrise Highway between Hospital Road and Route 101 around 8:50 p.m., police said.

According to police, Nichole McDowell, 27, of Ronkonkoma, was a passenger in a 2009 Hyundai, operated by her boyfriend, 30-year-old Edward Pontis, when they came upon a light-colored minivan, weaving back and forth in front of them in the left lane on Sunrise Highway.

Pontis, of Ronkonkoma, flashed his bright lights at the driver, who then hit his brakes. Pontis then passed the minivan on the right side and pulled in front of the minivan. The driver of the minivan sped up, driving close to the rear of the Hyundai, and started flashing his lights.

While both drivers were traveling at a high rate of speed, Pontis stepped on his brakes. The driver of the minivan then pulled up alongside the Hyundai and fired two shots into the vehicle, striking McDowell once in her hand and leg, police said.

Pontis transported McDowell to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue, where she is listed in stable condition. The couple’s child, an 11-week-old baby girl, who was in the back seat of the Hyundai, was uninjured.

The minivan’s driver has not been located. The investigation is continuing and detectives are asking anyone with information to contact the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.