Witnesses to fatal shooting at LI house party sought

Suffolk detectives continued Monday to search for cooperative witnesses to a shooting at a Central Islip party that left a Brooklyn teen dead and two others wounded.

Two bursts of gunfire outside the Ackerman Street home around 1:30 a.m. Sunday sent dozens of teens as young as 16 scrambling over fences and through nearby yards, police and neighbors said.

Eugene Smith, 17, was hit in the back as he stood in the street, where as many as 60 people were gathered at 1:30 a.m. for a house party. Smith, of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, later died at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore.

A resident of the house, Alyissa Kelman, 40, said the party was a 21st birthday bash for a family friend. Kelman said she, her husband and teenage daughter expected 25 people but twice that many arrived.

"The street was really crowded," she said, adding that she does not know Smith or the two others wounded. "He came all the way from Brooklyn? That's a ride. We're confused by that."

Two groups of shell casings were found in the street, police said. All three victims were wounded in front of the house, although it remained unclear Monday if the shooter or shooters had a specific target. A possible gang connection "is certainly something we're looking at, but no one is saying much," said Det. Lt. Gerard Pelkofsky of the Homicide Squad.

Kelman said those not invited were kept out of the basement, outfitted with a makeshift DJ booth and colored lights, the name "Club Basement" stenciled on two walls. Kelman said there was no alcohol served at the party. Police said alcohol was found. No arrests have been made.

A responding Suffolk officer also shot the family dog, a Husky named Chewy, when he chased a police canine outside the house, Kelman said. She said her dog was not barking or threatening, and chased the police dog "to play." The dog was taken away in an ambulance, she said.

"We don't know if the dog is alive or dead. We don't know where it is," she said. Police Monday confirmed that an officer shot a dog at the house but said they could not give details.

The father of Drew Watson, 24, of Rochester, said his son was also shot in the back but was released from the hospital.

"He didn't see anything. He said he was walking then 'boom, boom, boom' and he goes down," said the father, who declined to give his name. He said his son did not believe he was the intended target.

Relatives of Luigi Casimir, 19, of Brentwood, who was also injured, could not be reached.