West Hempstead, NY- Three people were shot on Tuesday morning at a Long Island grocery store. Officials say the shooting happened at 11:19am inside the Stop and Shop at 50 Cherry Valley Avenue in West Hempstead. One victim, a male, 49, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other gunshot victims were taken to an area hospital. Police in Nassau County have asked residents to remain in doors as the shooting suspect has not yet been apprehended. Some of the schools in the surrounding area are suspected to be on lock down include West Hempstead, Lynbrook, Mineola , Adelphi University, Sacred Heart, Garden City, Elmont and Uniondale.
Police are actively looking for a person of interest, Gabriel Dewitt Wilson, described as a 6’2″ black man, last seen wearing a black hat, a black mask and a black sweatshirt. He was last seen heading westbound on Hemptead Turnpike. Police are asking anyone with information to call 911 immediately. More information on the suspect, here.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, “We have seen shootings in our schools in movie theaters, in shopping centers and supermarkets, everywhere across this country. It’s one of the things that keeps me up at night as a County Executive — that we can have one of these shootings here in our community, on Long Island. We are the only country in this world where this epidemic of violence and mass shootings takes place. It is disgraceful, it is disturbing, and it has to end. We have to take action. We need action down in Washington, finally, on this issue.”
