Vigil Planned to Show Unity After Shooting

The City of Long Beach and residents plan to hold a vigil Tuesday near the site of where an Inwood man was shot in North Park and hospitalized late Saturday, the aftermath of which has led one city official to accuse unnamed people for stoking fears before Election Day.

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Organized by city officials and resident who say they want to show the community is united against violence, the hour-long vigil is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Centre St., according to Newsday. Scott Mandel, the city council president, said:

"The community will be coming together as a show of unity.”

At about 11:55 p.m. on Nov. 2, Long Beach police officers found a 26-year-old Inwood man with a gunshot wound lying in the road at 1 Sycamore Ct. at the Channel Park Homes public housing development, near National Boulevard and West Fulton Street. The man was transported to South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside for non-life-threatening injuries.

While establishing a crime scene, police recovered two rifles and 31 shell casings of varying calibers near the area of the shooting, and traced bullets that hit two homes and two cars in the area. Police said they have a person of interest in their ongoing investigation. 

In a rarely seen action, the City of Long Beach on Monday posted on its website a copy of the Long Beach Police Department press release, which was emailed to the media at about 1:30 p.m. Monday, and stated that people with any questions can call City Manager Jack Schnirman (at 516-431-1001), “or send us your number, and someone will call you.” Long Beach City Hall is closed Tuesday for Election Day.

Further, in a post about the shooting on the city’s Facebook page, featuring a link to the Newsday story, Schnirman wrote:   

"Earlier today LBPD took the suspected shooter into custody and confiscated the weapons. Even though shootings are down, as Scott J. Mandel said, one is one too many. Shame on those who tried to use this isolated incident to stoke fears on the eve of an election. Now more than ever is the time for the entire Long Beach community to stick together, work together, and keep moving forward."

One reader of the post, Eileen Costello, responding to Schnirman’s message, wrote: “Shame on those who tried to hide the incident, and reported it 48 hours later.”

To which Ed Oliva, commissioner of the Long Beach Auxiliary Police Department, replied: “Nothing is hidden Ms. Costello.....if you're able to instantly figure out what happened, then please join law enforcement. It takes a little time to gather facts and get it right. Its pathetic to make this political.”