Greenlawn man shot and paralyzed mother of his children, DA says

Eric Whilby, 37, was upset that she came home late, prosecutors say

The father allegedly shot her through a car window, then led cops on a foot chase through an elementary school’s Field Day

A Greenlawn man shot the mother of his kids through her car window at close range, paralyzing her, then fled to Westchester County where he led state troopers on a car chase and foot pursuit across a crowded elementary school yard during a Field Day event, authorities said Tuesday.

Eric Whilby, 37, was indicted and arraigned Monday on second-degree attempted murder and other related charges over the June 4 shooting.

Whilby and the victim were living together with their two children, ages 9 and 11, along with the victim’s mother, brother and sister, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. Just before 1 a.m., the victim came home and allegedly learned Whilby was angry that she hadn’t come straight to the house after work.

As she drove toward a nearby park to meet her sister, Whilby ran up to her car and shot her through the window, Tierney said. The bullet entered her left shoulder and traveled into her spinal cord.

The victim’s sister was on the phone with her at the time and allegedly heard her scream, followed by the gunshot. The sister and a friend nearby saw Whilby drive off in a white 2017 Honda CR-V, authorities said. The victim was hospitalized and is recovering from her injuries.

Whilby allegedly fled Suffolk County. When New York State Police spotted him driving in Westchester County, he led troopers on a pursuit before jumping out of his vehicle and running on foot across the grounds of a New Rochelle elementary school — in the middle of the school’s Field Day.

Police captured Whilby and recovered the gun Whilby allegedly used in the shooting from a wooded area near the school, Tierney said. In the mean time, the early morning police chase had prompted a lockdown at the elementary school.

“The defendant allegedly shot the victim who is now recovering from very serious, life-altering injuries,” Tierney said. “This is a sobering incident of alleged domestic violence, and my office will handle it with the seriousness that it deserves.”

Whilby pleaded not guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven Pilewski to the following charges:

• Second-degree atempted murder
• First-degree assault
• Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon

Pilewski ordered Whilby to be held behind bars for the duration of the case. He’s due back in court Aug. 5 and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count.

_{Top: Suffolk County Police vehicle (GLI file photo).}