Teen shot dead in gang-related attack in Central Islip, police say

A 15-year-old boy was shot dead in Central Islip woods early Wednesday morning in what police said appeared to be a gang-related attack.

"We are investigating it as if it were gang-related," said Suffolk Police Det. Lt. Kevin Beyrer. 

The victim, whom police did not identify, was in a heavily wooded area behind a temple on East Suffolk Avenue with three other young males when they were approached by two men, police said. 

The four young males ran in different directions, police said. Two of them ran to a nearby 7-11 convenience store and called 911 around 3:45 a.m., Beyrer said.

The victim, a local resident, was found shot in the woods. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Beyrer asked anyone with information in the case to call Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS.

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.