On the night of January 3, 2015, James Creekmore, a 41-year-old male, was fatally shot as he returned to his North Bay Shore home. The incident unfolded shortly before 10 p.m. at his residence located at 1681 N. Gardiner Drive. An unknown man, who had reportedly been fumbling with the lock, was let into the house by someone inside just as Creekmore was arriving.
Upon entering his home, Creekmore was shot by the intruder.
The suspect, who was said to be wearing a mask, fled the scene immediately after the shooting. Tragically, Creekmore was pronounced dead at his home. The shooting was witnessed by Creekmore's children who were present in the house at the time but were unharmed.
In the immediate aftermath, the Suffolk County Police Department's Homicide Squad launched an investigation into what they described as the county's first homicide of the year. Authorities stated it was too early to determine if Creekmore had been specifically targeted. Law enforcement asked for the public's assistance, urging anyone with information to contact them. At the time of the initial reports, no arrests had been made, and a suspect had not been publicly identified. The investigation was reported as ongoing.
