Lonnie Booker, a 43-year-old father of two, was remembered by his cousin as an "outstanding guy" who should not have died the way he did. His life was cut short in a public park on a Tuesday evening, leaving his family and community in mourning.
On September 29, 2026, Lonnie was at Robert Rowley Park on Patchogue Avenue in North Bellport, a community space with basketball courts, a playground, and athletic fields.
At approximately 7:28 p.m., near the handball courts, a single gunshot rang out. Lonnie was struck once in the chest. A 911 call reported the shooting, and Suffolk County Police officers arrived to find him wounded. He was rushed three miles to NYU Langone Hospital – Suffolk in East Patchogue, but doctors were unable to save him, and he was pronounced dead.
The violence of that evening was not confined to the park. After Lonnie was taken to the hospital, a dispute that began among bystanders at the scene spilled over into the emergency department. The confrontation escalated, prompting the hospital to implement temporary visitor restrictions as a safety precaution. Police limited access to the building until order was restored. One man, described as a friend of Lonnie's, was arrested and charged with second-degree harassment and resisting arrest after allegedly getting into a confrontation with an officer.
The Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad launched an immediate investigation. Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina stated that investigators believed the shooting was a targeted attack and that Lonnie and his killer knew each other. This was not a random act of violence. The shooting was captured on newly installed surveillance cameras that the Town of Brookhaven had placed in the park. Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico, who reviewed the footage, confirmed it showed several people in the park at the time and captured the moment Lonnie fell to the ground. The video also showed the suspect fleeing the scene in a red sedan.
Despite the video evidence, no arrests have been made in connection with Lonnie's murder. Investigators have not publicly identified a suspect or a motive for the shooting. Commissioner Catalina noted that this was the first shooting homicide in the Fifth Precinct in 2026, but stressed that "one homicide victim is one too many." The park had been a recent focus for local officials due to community complaints about people loitering after hours. Just one week before the shooting, police had conducted an enforcement operation, taking seven people into custody for trespassing, four of whom had outstanding warrants. However, authorities have not stated any known connection between that operation and Lonnie's death.
In the days following the shooting, friends and family gathered at Robert Rowley Park to mourn their loss, setting up a memorial in his honor. The community was left shaken by the violence that took place in a space meant for recreation and gathering. The investigation into Lonnie Booker's death remains ongoing. As of October 2026, his killer has not been brought to justice.
Detectives are asking for the public's help. Anyone with information about the shooting or the red sedan seen leaving the park is urged to contact the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad directly at 631-852-6392 or to call Suffolk County Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-220-TIPS.
