Accused drunk driver that killed 4 people rejects second plea deal
"I'm not interested," Steven Schwally said in court regarding the plea.
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The trial of the alleged drunk driver accused of crashing into a Deer Park nail salon and killing four people began Monday.
In court, Steven Schwally rejected a 22-years-to-life plea deal, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.
His attorney, Christopher Cassar, confirmed that Schwally rejected the same plea deal for a second time; it was first offered in November.
"I'm not interested," Schwally said in court regarding the plea.
Jury selection also began Monday in the case.
Prosecutors allege the Dix Hills man drank 18 beers before driving his Chevy into Hawaii Nail and Spa on June 28, 2024. Surveillance video shows Schwally purchasing alcohol at a liquor store next door before driving around Deer Park for roughly five hours.
Authorities say he eventually slammed into the salon at 78 miles per hour.
Emilia Rennhack, 30, Jiancai Chen, 37, Yan Xu, 41 and Meizi Zhang, 50, were killed, with nine others injured.
Rennhack was an NYPD officer, who was off-duty at the time of the crash.
Schwally faces 25 years to life in prison. He pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder, along with numerous additional charges.
Families of the victims and survivors have since filed civil lawsuits against Schwally.
