On a summer night in 2015, 23-year-old Ciara Smith of Deer Park, New York, was fatally shot in a brazen act of violence in Wyandanch. The female victim was one of three individuals who lost their lives on June 3rd when a gunman opened fire on a parked SUV on Davidson Street shortly before midnight. Also killed in the attack were 25-year-old William Madrey of Wyandanch and 23-year-old Stephanie Almedina Rivera of Bay Shore. A fourth woman in the vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries and survived.
The Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad launched an investigation into the triple homicide, with early indications suggesting the shooting may have been gang-related. Investigators noted that William Madrey, who was in the driver's seat, was a self-admitted member of a street gang, though his family contested this. The theory was that he may have been the intended target. The gunman, who approached the vehicle on foot, unleashed a volley of bullets before fleeing the scene. In the immediate aftermath, no suspects were publicly identified, and no arrests were made in connection with the murders.
A dramatic turn in the case came the following month when three individuals were arrested and charged with kidnapping and assault. Their defense attorney claimed their actions were a form of vigilante justice, alleging that the man they targeted, Justin Rivera, was the individual responsible for the triple homicide. The trio, who were associates of William Madrey, reportedly believed Rivera was the gunman and had taken matters into their own hands. Despite this accusation in open court, authorities did not publicly name Rivera as a suspect in the murders, and the online sources do not indicate that he was ever charged in connection with the killings.
In the years that have followed, the investigation into the deaths of Ciara Smith, William Madrey, and Stephanie Almedina Rivera has grown cold. No official suspects have been named, and no arrests have been made for the murders. The case remains an unsolved triple homicide, leaving the families of the victims without answers or justice. Law enforcement had offered a reward for information leading to an arrest, but it appears that the 'no-snitching' culture of the area may have hampered the investigation.
