In the early morning hours of February 17, 2022, the quiet of a Coram, New York neighborhood was shattered by a violent home invasion that resulted in the death of 46-year-old Eric Westby. A male resident of the home on Everglades Lane, Westby was fatally shot when multiple individuals forced their way into the residence at approximately 3:45 a.m.
During the chaotic and terrifying ordeal, a female occupant of the house was pistol-whipped.
Two other individuals were present in the home at the time but were not physically harmed. Emergency services were called to the scene, and Westby was rushed to John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson, where he was pronounced dead. The female victim received medical treatment for her injuries.
Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives immediately began an investigation, describing the incident as a targeted attack. Authorities suggested that the assailants may have been drawn to the residence in connection with narcotics. According to police, the intruders demanded money upon entering the home. The surviving residents were reportedly gathered into one room while the perpetrators searched for valuables.
Despite the ongoing investigation and appeals to the public for information, there has been no news of any arrests made in connection with the murder of Eric Westby. The suspects, who fled the scene before police arrived, have not been publicly identified. The case has left the community with a sense of unease as they await answers and justice for the violent end to a man's life in his own home.
