On a Wednesday afternoon in Copiague, New York, a young man’s life was cut short in an act of violence. Jewuel Hanson, a 25-year-old male from Lindenhurst, was fatally shot on February 19, 2020. The incident occurred around 3:50 p.m. outside an auto repair shop located at 70 Court Street. When Suffolk County Police officers arrived at the scene, responding to a 911 call about the shooting, they found Hanson with multiple gunshot wounds.
He was pronounced dead at the location.
The investigation into the shooting led to the arrests of two men within a couple of days. David Nolan, 22, of Queens, was identified by investigators as the gunman. Christopher Mohan, 29, of West Babylon, was named as his accomplice. Prosecutors stated that Mohan not only drove the getaway car but also supplied the 9 mm pistol used in the slaying. Adding a layer of complexity to the tragedy, it was revealed that the victim was a friend of the family that owned the auto shop, and Mohan was the nephew of the shop's owner.
Following their arrests, both Nolan and Mohan were charged with second-degree murder. During their arraignment, where friends and family of Hanson filled the courtroom, both men pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors detailed that the suspected murder weapon was discarded in a dumpster several blocks from the crime scene. Investigators recovered the pistol, which had a seven-round capacity, and found two bullets still inside. Five shell casings were discovered near where Hanson was shot.
The fiancée of Jewuel Hanson, Emily Gouveia, expressed her confidence that justice would be served for him. She stated that knowing the alleged perpetrators would face the consequences of their actions would help in bringing peace to his memory. The case was set to proceed through the legal system, with the victim's loved ones hoping for a resolution that would honor his life.
