Long Island municipal worker shot at inside popular park, spurring town lockdown

Suffolk Police
Suffolk County Police outside a Huntington park, where a gunman opened fire on Nov. 1, 2021. Photo credit Sophia Hall

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — Multiple gunshots were fired at a popular Huntington village park Monday morning, spurring multiple lockdowns across the town.

According to police, the gunman fired several times at a village employee who was driving a golf cart inside Heckscher Park around 9:30 a.m.

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Bullets reportedly struck the golf cart, but police confirmed there were no injuries as a result of the shooting.

Huntington Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci told WCBS 880 that buildings in the surrounding area were placed on lockdown as a precaution.

“It was an isolated event and are no reported injuries at this time,” he said. “Out of an abundance of caution, in accordance with our town policy, earlier today, Town Hall, the Village Green, senior center and Heckscher Park were on lockdown while the Suffolk County Police Department were on scene.”

The suspect, who was in a vehicle at the time of the shooting, fled the scene and is still on the run.

The lockdown order was lifted in the early afternoon Monday and Lupinacci said not much was disrupted.

“Our employees were working through the lockdown, no visitors were allowed in Town Hall during that time,” he said. “The only thing that saw a little bit of disruption was our senior meal delivery and pickup, which was postponed. All meal program participants have been called to reschedule.”

Lupinacci said he is not sure what the motive for the shooting could have been and noted golf carts are used in the park to transport a variety of things.

“These golf carts, in particular, are used in our park land area to help transport employees or to help transplant maintenance equipment,” he said.

Authorities are urging residents to continue avoiding the park, as the investigation remains active and ongoing.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Sophia Hall