State police: One shot on Shinnecock Indian Reservation

A 21-year-old man was shot and wounded late Saturday night on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation, state police said. A tribal leader said the shooting occurred at a party publicized on social media and crashed by uninvited guests.

The victim was shot in the leg and treated at a hospital for a non-lifethreatening injury, said Trooper Daniel Ahlgrim, a State Police spokesman. 

No one has been arrested, Ahlgrim said.

The shooting involved nontribal members who apparently were alerted to a graduation party on the reservation, in Southampton, by a DJ with a wide following on social media, said tribal vice chairman Lance Gumbs.

“It had nothing to do with the Nation itself or any tribal members,” Gumbs said, adding the tribe was not aware of any injuries besides the single gunshot victim.

The victim "was leaving the [reservation} and he stopped his car by the [Shinnecock] museum and told our security he’d been shot,” Gumbs said.

The was no immediate information on the shooting victim's condition.

Gumbs said the DJ has a large following on social media and promoted the event online, bringing a large contingent of nontribal members to the 700-acre reservation.

“The kids didn’t realize they were on a reservation," he said. "It was strictly off-reservation people.”

Gumbs said that as a result the shooting, the tribe is considering new screening of visitors.

“It’s something the community is going to take a look at,” he said. 

Ahlgrim had no additional information on the case and could not immediately confirm whether there was a party taking place at the time of the case.

By Mark Harrington

mark.harrington@newsday.com,matthew.chayes@newsday.comMHarringtonNews,

Mark Harrington, a Newsday reporter since 1999, covers energy, wineries, Indian affairs and fisheries.