Huntington Sta. coalition to tackle crime

Spurred into action by a recent triple-shooting in Huntington Station, town Supervisor Frank Petrone has reconvened a community group to address crime and other issues in the hamlet.

Petrone reactivated the Huntington Station Action Coalition, which he formed two years ago to address growing community concerns. Dolores Thompson of the Huntington branch of the NAACP and Ed Perez, president of Friends of the Huntington Station Latin Quarter, will co-chair the group, renamed Huntington Station Action NOW.

"I want this group to concentrate on creating things in the station that are going to get people involved," Petrone said. "The more commitment you get from the community and involved they are, the more the other types of activities decrease because they realize they're not welcome and they are going to leave."

Petrone said subcommittees will address issues including youth concerns and housing. The group also will look at reforming an enforcement bureau to hear cases of alleged town code violations. Petrone said he is asking clergy, social workers, teachers and lawyers to assist the committee.

The group will meet monthly, with the next meeting Dec. 16 at town hall.

Three men were shot Nov. 27 in the parking lot of the Lincoln Farm Apartments on First Avenue in Huntington Station.

The victims -- Darius Howard, 16, Devon White, 18, and Philip Perez, 22 -- were sitting in a white Jeep Grand Cherokee when eight to 10 men surrounded the vehicle and fired into it, police said.

On Friday police made three arrests in connection with the shooting. Police have not released the names of those arrested or the charges.