One shot at Hempstead firehouse

A lieutenant in the Hempstead Fire Department was shot in the leg at a large party at a Hempstead firehouse early Sunday morning, authorities said.

The incident occurred about 2 a.m. at the West End firehouse at 108 Front St., Hempstead Village police Lt. Edward Hayman said. The victim, who was not further identified, was taken to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow for treatment of a wound that was described as not life-threatening.

Hempstead Fire Department Chief Scott Clark said when he arrived on the scene, he found "a couple hundred" attendees on the street outside the firehouse for what had been billed as a baby shower by another member of the department, who had reserved the firehouse.

"Obviously, it was not a baby shower," Clark said. "This definitely would not have been approved."

The member giving the party, who has been with the department for four years, has been suspended, Clark said.

The lieutenant who was shot has been with the department for more than a decade, Clark estimated, and is a member in good standing. Clark said he didn't know if the victim was at the firehouse as an attendee, or if he was there in an official capacity.

Clark said his department is conducting an internal investigation and planning to review its policies around such events.

"One thirty in the morning, and the last thing you want to hear is one of your members has been shot, and it was on the property," he said.

Village police and Nassau County Third Precinct detectives are investigating the case, Hayman said.