North Bellport, New York — A 43-year-old Long Island father of two was fatally shot in what police described as a targeted attack at a local park, setting off a second disturbance at a nearby hospital where the victim had been taken for treatment.
Lonnie Booker was shot in the chest at Robert Rowley Park in North Bellport around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. He was rushed to NYU Langone-Suffolk in East Patchogue, roughly three miles from the shooting, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said Booker and the person who shot him appeared to know each other, adding another layer to an investigation that remains active.
Police Call Shooting a Targeted Attack
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said surveillance footage captured the suspect leaving the park in a red sedan following the shooting. Investigators have not publicly identified a suspect, and no arrests have been made.
“It appears that it is a targeted attack, and that the victim and perpetrator knew each other,” Catalina told ABC7NY.
Detectives with the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad are asking anyone who may have information about the shooting, the suspect or the vehicle seen leaving the scene to come forward.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting have not been fully disclosed, and investigators have not announced a possible motive.
Tensions Followed the Victim to the Hospital
The violence and confusion continued after Booker was transported to the hospital.
Police said Booker’s friend, Emmanuel Mayo, 37, followed him to NYU Langone-Suffolk in East Patchogue. According to police, Mayo became involved in a confrontation with an officer while attempting to enter the hospital.
Mayo allegedly pushed an officer and resisted when police attempted to arrest him.
The confrontation prompted police and hospital staff to temporarily restrict access to the building. Visitors were barred from entering until the situation was brought under control.
Mayo was subsequently charged with second-degree harassment and resisting arrest. The hospital disturbance was separate from the investigation into Booker’s killing, which remained ongoing.
Family and Friends Gather at the Park
Following the shooting, friends and relatives returned to Robert Rowley Park to mourn Booker. A memorial was established at the location where he was killed as those who knew him remembered the father of two.
“My cousin was an outstanding guy, and boom, he shouldn’t have died like that,” Earl Parker told.
The shooting has also prompted questions about safety at the park, particularly regarding activity after dark.
Police Had Been Called to the Park Before
The shooting occurred just one week after police took seven people into custody for trespassing at the park after dark, according to Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico.
Four of those individuals were taken into custody because of outstanding warrants, while three others received field appearance tickets.
Panico told that the town has invested heavily in the park and has added security cameras following complaints from neighbors about people loitering there after hours.
However, officials have not said that the earlier trespassing incidents were connected to Booker’s killing.
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Police are continuing to investigate whether the victim and suspected shooter had a prior relationship and what may have led to the confrontation.
Homicide Investigation Remains Ongoing
Catalina noted that Booker was the first person shot in the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fifth Precinct this year, but emphasized the seriousness of the violence.
“One homicide victim is one too many,” Catalina said, while also stressing that “one shooting victim is one too many.”
Investigators are still working to determine exactly what happened at Robert Rowley Park and identify the person responsible. Anyone with information is being urged to contact the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
For Booker’s family and friends, the investigation now comes as they mourn a father whose life ended suddenly in a public park.
What are your thoughts on the shooting and the concerns being raised about safety at the park? Share your thoughts in the comments.
