Police: Shotgun-wielding Wantagh man charged with menacing and harassment

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A Wantagh man was arrested and charged with menacing and harassment after he wielded a shotgun to threaten a 62-year-old grandmother and her grandson, according to Nassau County police.

On Monday, Joseph Magistro, 33, allegedly pointed a loaded shotgun at his neighbors, who are black, while shouting racial expletives, police said.

Magistro, of Bayview Avenue, who is white, “became enraged with his neighbors over an ongoing dispute,” police said. He then allegedly approached the front of the woman's house with a shotgun in hand. Also in the house was the woman’s 17-year-old grandson, officials said.

Magistro then launched barbells through the neighbor’s windows, shattering the glass. From the back of the house, he allegedly broke a window with the butt of his shotgun as he “screamed and verbally threatened to cause physical injury to the victims by using the shotgun,” according to police.

Magistro also allegedly used racial expletives to address the victims, going as far as to say, “You [expletives] don’t belong in this neighborhood. This is a white neighborhood,” police said.

Frightened for their safety, the woman and her grandson retreated inside to call police.

Police arrested Magistro without further incident. He was treated for a cut hand and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Magistro was charged with two counts of second-degree menacing, two counts of second-degree aggravated harrassment, third-degree criminal trespassing, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree criminal mischief.

He was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead Sept. 24. The District Court judge set Magistro’s bail at $15,000 cash or $30,000 bond. He is due back in court on Dec. 13.