Man Indicted On Murder Charge After Shooting Neighbor In Bellport: DA

NORTH BELLPORT, NY — A man has been indicted on charges of shooting and killing someone outside of their North Bellport home in June, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Shati Smith, 28, was charged with second-degree murder after shooting Lee Houpe in North Bellport in June, Tierney said.

“This defendant allegedly shot the victim multiple times in broad daylight before fleeing,”
Tierney said. “Thanks to the dogged efforts of the Suffolk County law enforcement this defendant
could run but he could not hide. This alleged cold-blooded killer was tracked all the way to
Virginia where he has been brought back to Suffolk County to face justice."

According to the investigation, on June 15 at 1:45 p.m., Houpe, also 28, was standing in a friend's driveway when he was approached by Smith and shot multiple times, Tierney said.

Smith got out of his car and started shooting at Houpe, hitting him three times; Houpe then collapsed to the ground and Smith proceeded to stand over him, shooting him an additional seven times, hitting him in the face, arm, and chest and killing him, Tierney said.

Smith got back into his car and fled the scene, heading to Virginia where he was found by the Suffolk County Police detectives, Tierney said. Smith was brought to Suffolk County after eventually waiving extradition.

On Thursday at his arraignment on the indictment, the judge Stephen Braslow ordered Smith held without bail or bond, Tierney said. Smith is being represented by John Halverson, of McGiff Halverson Dooley LLP; his next court date is September 20, 2022.

"We pled not guilty today and certainly the DA has the burden of proving his case going forward. I plan to vigorously defend it," Halverson said.

According to Suffolk County Police, Smith shot Houpe outside of his home at 615 Post Avenue; Smith, lives at 646 Post Avenue, police said.

Houpe was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on the incident to call the Suffolk County homicide squad at 631-852-6392 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.