Calverton Man Shot Mourners At Candlelight Vigil: DA

BELLPORT, NY — A Calverton man was indicted Friday after he opened fire at a candelight vigil held in Bellport in July, injuring multiple mourners, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Steven Reid, 27, reportedly shot the individuals at the vigil on July 6, Tierney said. Reid fled New York after the shooting and was arrested in North Carolina following a weeks-long' investigation into his whereabouts, the DA said.

According to the investigation, on July 6, more than 100 people gathered in Bellport to celebrate the life of a community member who had died in a motorcycle crash days before, Tierney said.

At the end of the candlelight vigil, Reid became involved in a physical altercation with another man who attended the ceremony, Tierney said.

During the altercation, Reid pulled out a gun and shot the man at point-blank range in the upper right thigh; the bullet shattered the man’s femur, passed through his leg, and lodged into his right shin, Tierney said.

Vigil attendees placed a tourniquet on the man’s leg and rushed him to the hospital, where he underwent emergency orthopedic surgery to replace his shattered femur with metal rods and pins, the DA said.

Minutes later, Reid followed the dispersing crowd and opened fire on another group of vigil attendees, shooting one man from close range, Tierney said. That man suffered four gunshot wounds, including gunshot wounds to his back, shoulder, and both of his legs, the DA said.

Immediately thereafter, Reid twice opened fire at a female adult two times and then shot at another group of people, including one woman and a 9-year old boy, as they were running away to a nearby residence, Tierney said.

The Suffolk County Police Department’s Fifth Precinct detectives squad launched an investigation after Reid fled the scene; Reid remained at large until he was located on September 19 in North Carolina by members of the United States Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Task Force with the assistance of the Suffolk County Police Department, Tierney said.

On September 26, the fugitive unit of the Suffolk County Police Department returned Reid to New York to face charges from the shootings, the DA said.

Reid was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree attempted murder, violent felonies; one count of first-degree assault, a violent felony; one count of first-degree attempted assault, a violent felony; one count of second-degree assault, a violent felony; two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, violent felonies; and one county of first-degree reckless endangerment, a felony, Tierney said.

On Friday, Reid was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Philip Goglas; Judge Goglas ordered Reid remanded without bail or bond during the pendency of the case, Tierney said.

Reid is being represented by attorney Eric Pack. "He's completely innocent and he looks forward to his day in court," Pack said.

Reid's next court date is November 18, before the Honorable Anthony S. Senft, Acting Supreme Court Justice, Tierney said.

"This defendant allegedly opened fire on an unsuspecting community gathered to mourn the loss of a loved one," said Tierney. "His alleged actions severely injured two individuals and put countless others in harm’s way. He then fled Suffolk County to try to avoid responsibility for these alleged actions. Through the great investigative work of our Suffolk County detectives, prosecutors and investigators, we were able to track him down, apprehend him, and bring him back to Suffolk County where he will face these charges."