In the early morning hours of January 29, 2022, amidst a severe winter storm, 34-year-old Daniel Decosta of Coram, New York, was found shot to death in the snow on a residential street in Shirley. Suffolk County police responded to a 911 call at approximately 12:35 a.m. reporting a man shot on Flower Road, near Neighborhood Road. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Decosta, who was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office.
The investigation into the death of the male victim was immediately classified as a homicide, with the Suffolk County Homicide Squad taking the lead. The weather conditions at the time, a blizzard, presented significant challenges to the initial stages of the investigation. Despite appeals to the public for information, authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the shooting.
Detectives have asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Homicide Squad or to provide anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers. The case remains an active and open investigation. The incident was one of several shootings that occurred on Long Island within a short period, raising concerns about a spike in violent crime in the area.
