
Two shots were fired Sunday evening on Redfield Lane in Westhampton Beach, which had been previously closed after Hurricane Irene downed trees and power lines in the area earlier in the day, though no injuries were reported and no arrests were made, according to Westhampton Beach Village Police.
According to Westhampton Beach Police Lieutenant Trevor Gonce, police officers monitoring the area had just allowed a Long Island Power Authority crew access to the road to survey the damage when two shots were heard originating from the end of the block. The shots were reported at around 5:52 p.m.
As the officer ran on foot toward the sound to investigate, Lt. Gonce said, “a gentleman came running toward them from that direction, saying he heard shots fired.”
Lt. Gonce said the officers observed people standing in front of a residence on Redfield Lane and told them “to get on the ground.” He said those residents informed the officers that the shots were fired from across the street. Officers went to investigate and removed a man from a nearby home, handcuffed and with their weapons drawn. The other witnesses were also handcuffed as police conducted their investigation.
The residents of both homes each accused the others of firing the gun, Lt. Gonce said.
Officers inspected a pickup truck parked outside one of the homes after one person said that a “rifle type gun” was in the vehicle. A weapon was not recovered, according to Lt. Gonce. He added that several other people said they had a gun but only brought it out for protection after hearing shots fired. They then brought the weapon back inside.
Lt. Gonce said that no arrests were made because a weapon was never found and no one reported being threatened with it. Officers did not recover any spent shells and a K-9 unit called to the scene also did not turn up any evidence.