Police: Shooter ‘out to commit mayhem’

The man who fired at least eight rounds at Bellmore fire volunteers and Nassau County police officers Tuesday night may have had “turmoil in his personal life,” said Lawrence Mulvey, commissioner of the Nassau County Police Department, on Wednesday afternoon.

On Thursday, police said they were still awaiting a positive identification of the shooter. He is believed to be a 31-year-old from Commack. Officers shot and killed him after he opened fire and wounded a volunteer EMT, Justin Angell of Bellmore, who graduated from Mepham High School.

Angell was rushed to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where he underwent emergency surgery. County Executive Edward Mangano said he visited Angell Wednesday morning and found him in good spirits and recovering nicely. “He was looking forward to getting back to work,” Mangano said.

According to Mulvey, the Bellmore Fire Department received a 911 call that a car had struck a telephone pole on Bellmore Avenue, south of Merrick Road. Angell and his brother, Dean, who was driving the ambulance, were first on the scene. Angell was walking toward the crashed car "when he was met by gunfire,” Mulvey said. Angell then retreated and collapsed on a lawn. Angell was helped into the ambulance by his brother and another EMT and brought to the hospital.

A Nassau County Police K-9 unit arrived shortly after the shooting started. The officer got out of his car and spotted the laser sights of a firearm on him, Mulvey said. The officer retreated behind the suspect’s car as 7th Precinct responders arrived.

A second officer took position behind his own vehicle as the suspect fired shots. The officer returned fire. A third responder, also from the 7th Precinct, came within six feet of the suspect’s gun barrel, police said. At that time, the K-9 officer approached the suspect from the passenger side of his vehicle and shot him dead.

Police said they believe the shooter came to Suffolk County from Florida within the past year. He is also believed to have been married with a young child.