Three people were indicted for their involvement in a physical altercation they had with other family members that occurred on Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst.
On December 17, 2023, Patrick J. O’Connor, 38, and his 32-year-old cousin allegedly had an encounter in a Centereach restaurant. The confrontation escalated and Patrick O’Connor allegedly attempted to strike his cousin with beer bottles.
Three days later, on December 20, 2023, Patrick O’Connor and his cousin saw each other again in Hauppauge. The cousin and his father then got into a white GMC Sierra pickup truck and followed the Ford F-150 pickup truck that Patrick O’Connor was driving.
As both vehicles approached the vicinity of Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst, James O’Connor, 19, Patrick’s son, arrived at the same location in a Toyota Tundra with his three younger siblings, ages 16, 12, and 4, in the car. James O’Connor then allegedly rammed the back of the GMC Sierra, causing his own vehicle to flip onto its side. None of the children in the Toyota were injured.
When the cousin and his father exited their GMC Sierra, Patrick O’Connor allegedly began to repeatedly strike the cousin on the head with a wooden stick. James O’Connor allegedly began to assault the cousin while Patrick O’Connor and the minor continued to strike him with the wooden sticks. The cousin’s brother showed up to the scene during the fight and was allegedly similarly assaulted by the defendants. Unrelated civilians intervened, and the defendants, along with the minor children, allegedly fled the scene but were apprehended by members of the Suffolk County Police Department later that day.
The victims were treated at Good Samaritan hospital. One of the victims received staples to his head, suffered two black eyes, and had significant bruising and pain in his shoulder and back. The other suffered an abrasion to his lip, bruising and cuts to his hands, and head and back pain.
James O’Connor was indicted for:
- two counts of second-degree assault, both Class D felonies
- one count of second-degree reckless endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor
- two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, both Class A misdemeanors
- one count of leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, a traffic infraction
Patrick O’Connor was indicted for:
- two counts of second-degree assault , Class D felonies
- one count of second-degree attempted assault, a Class E felony
- one count of second-degree menacing, a Class A misdemeanor
The minor was indicted for two counts of second-degree assault, both Class D felonies.
On January 4, 2024, all three defendants were arraigned on the indictment by Acting Supreme Court Judge Karen Kerr, who ordered James O’Connor held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, and he was ordered to surrender his passport. He is due back in court on January 23, 2024.
Kerr ordered Patrick O’Connor held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, and he was ordered to surrender his passport. He is due back in court on January 17, 2024.
Kerr ordered the minor held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, and he was ordered to surrender his passport. He is
due back in court on January 17, 2024,
“As alleged, these defendants brazenly began a physical brawl in the middle of Sunrise Highway, putting their family and the public at serious risk of harm,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Fortunately, there were not more serious injuries or casualties that resulted out of this violent feud.”