Three Men Indicted For Brawl On Sunrise Highway In Lindenhurst
Three men involved in the December brawl on Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst have been indicted on assault charges, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced Friday.
Patrick J. O’Connor, 38, James O’Connor, 19, and a third, unnamed individual whom Tierney’s office said is a minor, were indicted for second-degree assault and other related charges.
It’s been confirmed by police and again by Tierney’s office that the combatants in his brawl were relatives.
Tierney’s office said in a news release that a previous incident led to the Sunrise brawl: On Dec. 17 2023, Patrick O’Connor and his 32-year-old cousin allegedly had an encounter in a Centereach restaurant. The confrontation escalated and O’Connor allegedly attempted to hit his cousin with beer bottles.
“On Dec. 20, Patrick O’Connor and his cousin saw each other again in Hauppauge,” the news release said. “The cousin and his father then got into a white GMC Sierra pickup truck and followed the Ford F-150 pickup truck that Patrick O’Connor was driving. As both vehicles approached the vicinity of Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst, James O’Connor, Patrick O’Connor’s son, arrived at the same location in a Toyota Tundra with his three younger siblings, ages 16, 12, and 4, in the car. James O’Connor then allegedly rammed the back of the GMC Sierra, causing his own vehicle to flip onto its side. None of the children in the Toyota were injured. When the cousin and his father exited their GMC Sierra, Patrick O’Connor allegedly began to repeatedly strike the cousin on the head with a wooden stick. James O’Connor allegedly began to assault the cousin while Patrick O’Connor and the minor continued to strike him with the wooden sticks. The cousin’s brother showed up to the scene during the fight and was allegedly similarly assaulted by the defendants.”
Patrick O’Connor is due in court Jan. 17, while James O’Connor is due back in court Jan. 23.
“As alleged, these defendants brazenly began a physical brawl in the middle of Sunrise Highway, putting their family and the public at serious risk of harm,” Tierney said. “Fortunately, there were not more serious injuries or casualties that resulted out of this violent feud.”
