Shots fired into car, passenger hurt in West Babylon, Suffolk police say

Suffolk County Police First Squad detectives are investigating an early-morning shooting that wounded a man Tuesday in West Babylon.

Police said the man, identified as a 43-year-old from Wyandanch, was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical in West Islip for treatment of a non-life-threatening graze wound to the head. Police believe the shooting was targeted.

Police said the man was a passenger in a 2016 Toyota Camry making a left turn onto Dale Street from eastbound Edison Avenue when someone in another vehicle "fired shots" into the car at about 1:25 a.m. Police did not say how many shots were fired or what, if any, evidence was recovered during the investigation.

Detectives said the driver of the Toyota then went to a nearby gas station at the intersection of Straight Path and Little East Neck Road on the Wyandanch-West Babylon border, where an occupant in the Camry called 911.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding the shooting to call First Squad detectives at 631-854-8152 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

All calls will remain confidential.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”