A young man was fatally shot and a 12-year-old boy and three teens hurt when a gunman opened fire during an illegal party at a Long Island rental space late Monday, police said.
The gunman fired off eight rounds about 8:30 p.m. outside Dopie’s World at 85 Ocean Ave. in Valley Stream, a rental hall where between 50 and 60 people gathered for the unauthorized gig, said Nassau County Detective Capt. Steven Fitzpatrick.
A 20-year-old Brooklyn man was struck in the chest and taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Fitzpatrick said. Authorities have not released his name, pending family notification.
The youngest gun victim was a 12-year-old boy, who was standing just inside the doorway when a slug went straight through his upper left shoulder area, Fitzpatrick said. The kid was hospitalized in stable condition.
“[The boy] was attending the party,” Fitzpatrick told reporters. “He was there with another adult. He claims that he was not drinking alcohol, but that’s not been confirmed. He’s been at these parties several times.”
Two 17-year-old boys from Elmont were also shot: one in the back of his leg and the other in his knee, the police official said. Both were treated and released.
A 17-year-old girl from Brooklyn also suffered a cut on her hand, but it is unclear how she was hurt, officials said.
“It’s unknown whether a round hit her or she was caught in the turmoil that occurred after the shots were fired,” Fitzpatrick said. “It might have been glass or something that cut her hand.”
The assailant, who police believe fired a semiautomatic .380-caliber weapon, fled west on 131st Avenue toward Queens and had not been caught by Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
The motive remains under investigation.
Nassau cops are also conferring with the district attorney’s office to determine whether the organizers of the party will face any criminal charges, officials said.
The party – which was promoted widely on social media – was considered illegal because the organizers were charging admission and serving alcohol without a license, Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder told reporters.
Liquid marijuana may have been served at the party as well, the commissioner said.
“Look, it’s simple. Your kids are all on these sites,” Ryder said. “They get invites to these parties. …These are not your typical establishments that are licensed to sell alcohol, check ID on those who come into their restaurant or their establishment.
“So these types of parties, we try to make sure we shut down before [they begin, but] this one we didn’t get,” Ryder said. “But now the county executive has turned it up. And he wants more attention towards all of these parties. So we will be shutting them down every time they try to go. They go viral, and they go viral quickly, and you can’t control what comes and how many come.”
