(NewsNation) — At least two people were shot Sunday outside of Congressman Lee Zeldin’s family home in Shirley, New York.
Zeldin (R-NY-1), the Republican candidate for New York governor, said his twin 16-year-old daughters were at the house at the time of the shooting, while he and his wife were leaving the Bronx Columbus Day Parade in Morris Park. The shooting happened at around 2:18 p.m.
“After my daughters heard the gunshots and the screaming, they ran upstairs, locked themselves in the bathroom and immediately called 911. They acted very swiftly and smartly every step of the way and Diana and I are extremely proud of them,” Zeldin said.
In a statement, Zeldin said the two people who were shot were laying down under his front porch and in the bushes. He believes they have been transported to area hospitals.
The congressman said his daughters were inside doing homework when they heard the gunshots.
Zeldin said one of the bullets landed just 30 feet away from his daughters.
“My daughters are shaken, but OK. Like so many New Yorkers, crime has literally made its way to our front door. My family is grateful to all who have reached out and we will provide another update when we can,” Zeldin said.
Monday, Suffolk County police investigators said both the victims were 17 years old, although they have not released their names. Furthermore, local authorities confirm they are from Mastic and Mastic Beach and that their injuries are not life-threatening,
Investigations conducted by local authorities also found what happened leading up to the shooting.
According to the SCPD’s Monday news release, three teenagers were walking on Saint George Drive West when someone began firing multiple gunshots outside a dark-colored vehicle at 2:19 p.m.
The two teenagers Zeldin found in his yard were attempting to hide. They were treated at a local hospital. The third teen fled the scene on foot.
Zeldin, a Suffolk County, New York, native, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for New York’s First Congressional District in 2014. He connects the incident outside his own home to his “soft on crime” attacks on Democrats.
Zeldin secured the Republican primary for governor of New York. He is expected to face off against Gov. Kathy Hochul for the seat in November, although recent polls show the incumbent leading — in some cases by double digits.
Overall, the most serious crimes in New York reported to the FBI were up by 15% in September compared to last year, the NYPD reports, although both murders and shootings were down by double digits.
Hochul says she has been briefed on the shooting outside of Zeldin’s house.
“As we await more details, I’m relieved to hear the Zeldin family is safe and grateful for law enforcement’s quick response,” Hochul said.
Zeldin said his family is home working with authorities and handing over security footage from their home cameras to help with the investigation.
At this time, investigators have no reason to believe there is any connection between the shooting and the
residence of the congressman.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Seventh Squad Detectives at 631-852-8752 or
Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.
