Mastic Man Arrested for Fatal Stabbing at Motel

A Mastic man has been arrested after fatally stabbing another man in a motel room in Shirley.

On June 30 at approximately 5 p.m., Suffolk County police responded to a 911 call at the Shirley Motel located at 681 Montauk Highway. The caller reported that a man was stabbed during a fight in a room in front of a group of people. An investigation by the Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad identified James Vaughn, 63, as the man who was fatally stabbed by Philip Walker, 56. Vaughn was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue, where he was pronounced dead.

Walker was arrested on July 2, and held overnight at the Third Precinct. He was arraigned on July 3 at First District Court in Central Islip on the charge of second-degree murder.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 or Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.