Suffolk Reporter

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the indictment of Lawrence Brown Jr., 26, of Riverhead, for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and other related charges following a shooting incident in Hampton Bays.

“This arrest is an excellent example of the work that can be achieved when law enforcement agencies work together,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I commend the joint investigation conducted by the Town of Southampton Police Department, Riverhead Police Department, with our East End Drug Task Force along with our Gang Task Force. We look forward to holding this defendant accountable in court.”

Southampton Town Police Chief James Kiernan added, “The extensive investigation conducted by the Southampton Town Police Detective Division in partnership with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Gang Task Force resulted in the successful arrest of Lawrence Brown Jr. and the recovery of a 9mm handgun that was allegedly used in a shooting into an occupied residence located in Hampton Bays. The collaborative effort resulted in an illegal handgun being removed from the streets before an innocent person could be injured or killed. Gun violence has no place in Southampton Town and will not be tolerated.”

According to investigators, on July 7, 2024, at approximately 11:40 p.m., Brown allegedly drove from his residence in Riverhead to Hampton Bays and fired five shots into the home of an individual he had been disputing with days earlier. No injuries were reported during the incident.

The residents inside the Hampton Bays home were asleep when the shots were fired and initially believed they heard fireworks. They discovered bullet holes in their home the following day and reported them to Southampton Town Police, who recovered multiple expended 9mm caliber shell casings from the street.

On August 22, 2024, authorities executed a search warrant at Brown’s home in Riverhead with assistance from various law enforcement units. During this search, a 9mm caliber handgun was allegedly found in Brown’s bedroom.

Brown was arraigned on September 9, 2024, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft Jr., facing charges including:

- Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class C violent felonies)

- One count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (Class D felony)

- One count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm (Class E felony)

Justice Senft ordered Brown held on $250,000 cash bail or $500,000 bond or $2.5 million partially secured bond pending further proceedings.

Brown is scheduled to return to court on September 24, 2024. If convicted on the top count, he faces up to 15 years in prison. He is represented by the Legal Aid Society.

Assistant District Attorney Kristen Yeamans of the Violent Crime Enterprises Bureau is prosecuting this case while Detective Donald Metcalf and Special Investigator Daniel Crerend led the investigation.