Long Island Slayings Believed To Be ‘Targeted’: Police

FARMINGVILLE, NY — Suffolk County police are now saying the shooting that left three adults dead and an infant unharmed inside of a Long Island home on Friday was not random.

Officers found Farmingville residents Richard Castano, 31, and Diamond Schick, 24, and Nyasia Knox, 20, of Georgia, dead from gunshot wounds, police said. An infant, who is under a year old, was in a room in the house, but was not harmed and was later taken to the hospital, according to police. Police would not specify which room the infant was in at the time of the killings.

Police said that at least one gunman kicked in a door, forcing his way inside of the home, which is located inside of a gated community on Overlook Drive, and broke the door jamb to gain access to the home.

Homicide Squad chief Det. Lt. Kevin Beyrer said police responded to the Overlook Drive home at about noon after a relative called 911, alerting them that they went to check on them and believed them to be dead.

“While this is still an active investigation, detectives are investigating this as a targeted incident,” a police spokeswoman said Saturday.

Police would not say if they believe there is more than one person involved in the killings or what they believe the motive is.

Police on Friday said that the victims' backgrounds would help them as to whether the shootings were planned.

The shooting was the second fatal incident in the area in a matter of hours. A woman was found stabbed to death in Holtsville on Thursday night.

The shooting was the fourth fatal one in Suffolk County since last weekend when two people were shot within hours of each other in West Babylon and Amityville. A man was also killed in Wyandanch Wednesday morning. A total of six people have been killed altogether.

In total, there have been six shootings, including one in Center Moriches on Sunday and another in Holbrook on Tuesday, in which the victims survived.

Detectives are continuing to investigate. They are asking anyone with information to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.