A Bay Shore man was indicted on murder and weapons charges for allegedly shooting and killing a 51-year-old man at a New Year’s Eve gathering at a home in New Cassel.
In the early morning hours of January 1, at a house on Railroad Avenue in New Cassel, the victim, 51-year-old Joseph Fountain, was attending a New Year’s Eve gathering with family members. A dispute broke out between the victim and several family members outside the home. During the altercation, an individual from a neighboring house attempted to intervene and the victim punched the individual. Fountain then headed back into the home and up the stairs.
At approximately 2:03 a.m., the defendant, Stephen Primm, a guest at the neighbor’s home, allegedly went inside the Railroad Avenue home and fired four shots up the stairwell, striking Fountain at the top of the stairs. Fountain was hit four times in the hand, left torso, and back. Primm allegedly fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
The victim was taken to NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island where he was pronounced deceased.
Primm was located at a home in Bay Shore and arrested on January 3 by Nassau County Police Department Homicide Squad detectives.
Primm, 34, was arraigned today before Judge Joy Watson on grand jury indictment charges of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony); and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony).
The defendant pleaded not guilty and was remanded. He is due back in court on March 10, 2026. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
“When a family gathering became heated and turned physical, this defendant decided to end the argument his way,” said DA Donnelly. “Stephen Primm sought out Joseph Fountain, found him at the top of the home’s staircase, and allegedly pointed and fired four shots at the 51-year-old father. Though Fountain initially survived the attack, he succumbed to his extensive injuries at the hospital. Primm chose to start a new year with violence, and now he will be prosecuted for his alleged crimes.”