A 27-year-old man and two of his dogs were shot, killing one of the dogs, by a gunman who set the victim’s Yaphank home on fire on Tuesday, Suffolk County police said.
The shooter entered the victim’s Long Island Avenue home and opened fire before igniting the blaze and fleeing the scene at 5:30 p.m., police said.
Yaphank Fire Department firefighters extinguished the flames with the help of the Medford Fire Department, Ridge Fire Department, Brookhaven Fire Department and Middle Island Fire Department.
The victim was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The surviving dog was taken to a local animal clinic, where he was being treated and is recovering. The dead dog was taken to the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s office to have the bullet removed for the investigation.
Sixth Squad and Arson Section detectives ask anyone with information on this case to call them at 631-854-8652 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.
