In the early morning hours of July 4, 2016, a celebration turned tragic outside a home on Emerald Lane North in North Amityville. Jason White, a 38-year-old man from nearby West Babylon, was fatally shot in an incident that also left a 28-year-old Wyandanch man seriously injured. The shooting shattered the holiday peace and launched a multi-year investigation by Suffolk County police. White was known in the community as a father of four who had grown up in the neighborhood.
For nearly three years, the case remained unsolved, leaving a void in the lives of White's family and friends. The initial response to the shooting, which occurred around 3:20 a.m., found White deceased at the scene. The second victim was rushed to a local hospital in serious condition. In the immediate aftermath, authorities confirmed that no arrests had been made, and the shooter remained at large, leaving the community on edge and searching for answers.
A significant breakthrough in the investigation came on June 3, 2019, when Suffolk County police arrested Adrian Harrison, a 32-year-old man from North Amityville. Harrison was taken into custody and subsequently charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Jason White. Following his arrest, Harrison was held at the First Precinct and was scheduled for arraignment at the First District Court in Central Islip.
