A quiet Greenlawn block turned into a crime scene early Thursday when a 40-year-old woman was seriously injured in a shooting on Leigh Street, rattling neighbors who say the area is usually calm. Witnesses reported finding the woman slumped in the driver's seat of a vehicle before emergency crews rushed her to a hospital for treatment.
What police say
Suffolk County police say the gunfire broke out at around 1 a.m., and the shooter took off before officers arrived. A few hours later, New Rochelle police arrested a suspect the same morning, according to News 12. Authorities identified the suspect as 37-year-old Eric Giovanni Whilby of Greenlawn and say he was taken into custody on Pelham Road at about 8:40 a.m.
Neighbors describe chaotic scene
Residents say they were jolted awake by a single gunshot and then a flurry of commotion outside their homes, telling News 12 the normally quiet street suddenly filled with cries and flashing lights. One neighbor recalled, "I heard everyone was crying and I thought something bad happened. Something bad just happened." Another resident said they spotted blood, ran outside, and tried to give first aid before emergency crews arrived.
Arrest and charges
Police have described the incident as domestic-related and say the victim was treated for serious injuries at a hospital. Whilby was charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Detectives blocked off part of Leigh Street with crime scene tape as they processed evidence, and neighbors say investigators remained on the block for hours.
What authorities are asking
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Suffolk County Police Department. Tips can be submitted online or by phone. Contact details are listed on the Suffolk County Police Department website.
