In the late hours of a Wednesday night in March 2020, a tragic event unfolded in a Hampton Bays home that claimed the lives of 25-year-old Jonathan Fava and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Kelly Lynn Bray. Southampton Town Police received a distressing call around 11:30 p.m. from a woman at the residence on Ponquogue Avenue, reporting a gunshot. Upon arrival, officers discovered Fava and Bray with critical gunshot wounds.
They were rushed to separate hospitals but were both pronounced dead shortly after their arrival. Also present in the home, but unharmed, were the couple's infant daughter and a 27-year-old female friend who made the 911 call.
Initially, authorities investigated the incident as a possible murder-suicide, a grim theory that cast a dark shadow over the quiet neighborhood. Investigators found a handgun, a long gun, and a bow and arrow inside the residence. It was also noted that there was evidence of alcohol consumption at the scene. While the couple had no history of domestic violence calls, Fava had a prior arrest in 2016 for an incident involving a shotgun.
However, as the investigation progressed, a different and more heartbreaking narrative emerged. After a thorough investigation, which included forensic evidence, a report from the Suffolk County Medical Examiner, and an interview with the witness present at the scene, Southampton Town Police Chief Steven Skrynecki announced a significant shift in their understanding of the event. The evidence revealed that a single bullet had tragically ended both Fava's and Bray's lives. The deaths were no longer considered a murder-suicide but rather a tragic accident.
The investigation concluded that Fava and Bray had been drinking and handling a semiautomatic Glock handgun that they both believed to be unloaded. At some point, the weapon discharged, and the single round passed through both of them. Chief Skrynecki emphasized that while it was unclear if the trigger pull was intentional or accidental, the belief that the gun was not loaded led to the classification of the deaths as a tragic mishap. The handgun was determined to be unregistered and illegally owned. The investigation underscored the devastating consequences of mixing alcohol and firearms, a sentiment echoed by the police chief. While the case was not officially closed, the authorities stated that no criminal act was believed to have taken place.
