Long Island Father Fatally Shot in Park; Hospital Lockdown Follows Brawl
A targeted shooting at a North Bellport park led to the death of Lonnie Booker, and a subsequent confrontation at a hospital prompted a temporary lockdown.
A 43-year-old Long Island father of two was fatally shot in what authorities are calling a targeted attack at Robert Rowley Park in North Bellport on Tuesday evening. Lonnie Booker was struck by gunfire around 7:30 p.m. and was transported to NYU Langone-Suffolk in East Patchogue, where he was pronounced dead.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina stated that evidence suggests Booker and his assailant knew each other. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the suspect fleeing the scene in a red sedan. "It appears that it is a targeted attack, and that the victim and perpetrator knew each other," Catalina told ABC7NY.
No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, and detectives are appealing to the public for information.
Following the shooting, violence reportedly extended to the hospital where Booker was taken. Emmanuel Mayo, 37, a friend of Booker's, allegedly confronted a police officer at the hospital and resisted arrest. According to Greater Long Island, Mayo pushed an officer while attempting to enter the hospital. The confrontation led to a temporary lockdown of the facility, with visitors barred from entry until order was restored.
Maya was subsequently charged with second-degree harassment and resisting arrest.
Booker, described as an "outstanding guy" by his cousin Earl Parker, was the first homicide victim in the Fifth Precinct this year. "One homicide victim is one too many and one shooting victim is one too many," Catalina emphasized.
The incident has drawn attention to safety concerns at Robert Rowley Park. Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico informed Newsday that the town had invested in park security, including surveillance cameras, following complaints about loitering. Just one week prior to the shooting, police apprehended seven individuals at the park after dark for trespassing, with some facing outstanding warrants and others receiving field appearance tickets.
The investigation into Booker's death is ongoing.