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The mid-afternoon melee between family members on Sunrise Highway that was captured on video last month has resulted in felony charges against a father, son and a minor who has not been identified, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office announced today.
Sparked by a dispute between cousins, the Lindenhurst brawl happened in full view of motorists and people walking in the vicinity. Two individuals are seen wildly beating two men with sticks.
Patrick J. O’Connor, 38; his son James O’Connor, 19; and a minor were indicted for second-degree assault and other related charges for their involvement in the altercation they had with other family members.
“These defendants brazenly began a physical brawl in the middle of Sunrise Highway, putting their family and the public at serious risk of harm,” District Attorney Raymon A. Tierney said. “Fortunately, there were not more serious injuries or casualties that resulted out of this violent feud.”
The incident stemmed from a Dec. 17 encounter that Patrick O’Connor had with his 32-year-old cousin inside a Centereach restaurant. The confrontation escalated and Patrick O’Connor allegedly tried to hit his cousin with beer bottles, Tierney said.
Three days later, on Dec. 20, Patrick O’Connor and his cousin saw each other again in Hauppauge. The cousin and his father then got into a white GMC Sierra pickup truck and followed the Ford F-150 pickup truck that Patrick O’Connor was driving, authorities said.
As their vehicles approached Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst, James O’Connor drove up to the same location in a Toyota Tundra — with his three younger siblings, ages 16, 12, and 4, in the car.
James O’Connor then allegedly rammed the back of the GMC Sierra, causing his own vehicle to flip onto its side, Tierney said. None of the children in the Toyota were injured.
When the cousin and his father got out of their GMC Sierra, Patrick O’Connor allegedly repeatedly struck the cousin on the head with a wooden stick. James O’Connor allegedly began to assault the cousin while Patrick O’Connor and the minor continued to strike him with wooden sticks, the district attorney said.
Soon, the cousin’s brother showed up to the scene and was allegedly similarly assaulted by the defendants.
Civilians not involved in the family dispute intervened, and the defendants, along with the minor children, allegedly fled the scene. The defendants were apprehended by Suffolk Police later that day.
The victims were treated at Good Samaritan hospital. One received staples to heal heads, suffered two black eyes, and had significant bruising and pain in his shoulder and back, the district attorney said. The other man suffered an abrasion to his lip, bruising and cuts to his hands, among other minor injuries.
The three defendants were indicted on Jan. 4 by Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen Kerr. Each defendant was ordered held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond. They were ordered to surrender their passports.
Top image: Video still (Courtesy of SCDA)
