Bay Shore man shot after argument with driver

A Bay Shore man told police he was shot after an argument with another driver in what he said was a road rage incident late Thursday in Deer Park.

The shooting victim was identified by police as Vladimir Benjamin, 29, of Baldwin Boulevard.

Police said he was shot once in the left leg and taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip with "non-life-threatening injuries."

Police said Benjamin told them he was headed to a relative's home in Deer Park when a driver sped past him on Maida Avenue at about 10:10 p.m. Thursday. Police said Benjamin then told them he and the driver of the dark-colored vehicle got into an argument, that the other driver got out of his car with a gun - and that he shot Benjamin and fled.

Regarding whether it was road rage, "We're certainly not ruling it out," a police spokesman said. "But we're also investigating it further."

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