Gunfire reported in Sound Beach; CodeRED used

The CodeRED emergency notification system was activated in Sound Beach late Wednesday night after a 911 caller reported a gunshot fired on Waterville Drive, Suffolk County police said Thursday.

Police said a man with a shotgun approached a group of people talking outside a home about 10:30 p.m. He fired the weapon into the air and then fled, police said.

No one was injured, and no arrest has been made, according to police.

The suspect's face was painted white with black triangles above and below his eyes, police said.

An extensive search by police included an aviation unit and canine teams combing the area. During that time, police said, the automated notification system, CodeRED, which delivers customized prerecorded emergency messages, was used to advise local residents to remain indoors.

A second round of CodeRED calls later advised residents that the search was winding down and informed them that authorities did not believe the shot was fired at random.

Police could not immediately say when, if ever, the CodeRED system, implemented under former County Executive Steve Levy, had been used in such a case. The system has been used to advise Suffolk residents during major storm conditions.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about the incident to call Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS.