In the late hours of a March evening in Hampton Bays, New York, the life of 24-year-old Kelly Lynn Bray, a Caucasian woman, was cut tragically short. On March 5, 2020, she died from a gunshot wound at her home on Ponquogue Avenue. Her fiancé, 25-year-old Jonathan Fava, also died from a gunshot wound the same night. The couple’s infant daughter was present in another room of the house but was physically unharmed.
Initially, law enforcement officials investigated the deaths as a
possible murder-suicide. Responding to a distressed 911 call from a woman at the residence, Southampton Town Police discovered Bray and Fava with gunshot wounds. Both were transported to local hospitals where they were pronounced dead. An investigation was launched by the Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad and the Southampton Town Police Detective Division. Found at the scene were several weapons, including a handgun and long guns.
As the investigation progressed, the initial theory of a murder-suicide was revised. Authorities later determined that a single bullet from an illegally owned semi-automatic handgun was responsible for both deaths. An eyewitness account, along with forensic evidence, led investigators to conclude that the shooting was accidental. According to the Southampton Town Police Chief, Bray and Fava had been drinking and believed the handgun was not loaded. The investigation concluded that the tragic event underscored the dangers of handling weapons while under the influence of alcohol. No arrests were made in connection with the deaths, as the incident was deemed a tragic accident.
