Victim Shot Downtown Saturday Is Brother of Man Who Fired Shots At Hospital: Police

RIVERHEAD, NY — An East Quogue man was shot on East Main Street in Riverhead Saturday, Riverhead Police said — and the victim was the brother of a man later arrested for firing shots outside Southside Hospital.

The victim was identified by police as Charles Gamble, 35, of East Quogue; he was shot by an unknown gunman and brought first to Peconic Bay Medical Center, then to Southside Hospital, where he is listed in stable condition in the intensive care unit, police said.

According to Riverhead Town Police Detective Frank Hernandez, Gamble is the brother of John Gamble, who was arrested later outside Southside Hospital, where his brother was ultimately brought for treatment, and charged with firing shots in the parking lot.

According to Riverhead Town Police, authorities responded Saturday morning at 3:25 a.m. to East Main Street and Roanoke Avenue, near the Suffolk County Community College Culinary Arts Center, after a report of shots fired.

Officers found evidence of a shooting and then, were told that a shooting victim was being treated at Peconic Bay Medical Center, police said.

Later, at 5:50 a.m., Suffolk County Police arrested John Gamble of Bay Shore in the Southside Hospital Parking lot on East Main Street after he fired multiple rounds from a 9 mm handgun, authorities said.

Third Squad detectives charged Gamble, 35, of 30 Wildwood Trail, with first degree reckless endangerment; he is being held overnight at the Third Precinct and is scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on Sunday, police said.

Police are still searching for the gunman who shot Gamble in Riverhead and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Riverhead Police at 631-727-4500 ext. 328.