A weeknight at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow turned into a crime scene Wednesday after multiple people were shot, according to Nassau County police. Officers rushed into the popular county park, a helicopter circled overhead, and patrol cars lined access roads near Hempstead Turnpike as detectives began combing through the area while neighbors and families stood by watching.
The Nassau County Police Department said the shooting was reported around 8:30 p.m. near Hempstead Turnpike and Merrick Avenue, and officers stayed on site as investigators processed the scene, as reported by CBS News New York. Police said they could not immediately confirm how many people had been hit or how serious the injuries were. The department described the case as an active investigation.
"He just said, 'My friend just got shot. My friend got shot,'" one woman told CBS News New York, recalling her 17-year-old son's frantic reaction after the shots rang out. She said her son was not injured but that his 15-year-old friend was hurt. Authorities have urged anyone who captured video or has firsthand information to step forward.
Where It Happened
Eisenhower Park is a sprawling Nassau County facility that features athletic fields, golf courses and the Nassau County Aquatic Center. County listings show primary entrances on Merrick and Stewart avenues and Hempstead Turnpike. The park's official administrative address is 1899 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow, and it regularly draws large crowds for sports and community events, which can complicate late-night investigations. For contact details, visit Nassau County Parks.
Investigation And How To Help
Nassau County police say the investigation is ongoing and are asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or has video to contact detectives. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS, according to Nassau County Crime Stoppers. As of the latest update, police had not announced any arrests or filed charges while detectives continued to process the scene.
