Police: 3 charged in double shooting outside Center Moriches grocery store

The incident follows two other shootings late Saturday night and early Sunday morning in Suffolk County. A man was killed in West Babylon. Another man was killed in Amityville.

News 12 Staff

Jul 19, 2021, 9:56 AM

Updated 1,237 days ago

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Suffolk police say an argument inside a black Mercedes led to the shooting outside a Center Moriches supermarket on Sunday afternoon.
According to acting Police Commissioner Stuart Cameron, four individuals were inside the vehicle that pulled into the parking lot at 4:05 p.m. When they stepped out of the vehicle at Lidl supermarket, the argument between two passengers, who were not named, escalated – and they shot each other.
One of the individuals who was shot got back into the Mercedes and pulled out on to Montauk Highway where he hit a guardrail and overturned. A responding Suffolk officer provided medical assistance to that person. Cameron says a handgun was recovered from the vehicle. That person was charged with criminal possession of a weapon.
The other wounded person, who was not named, was found on the ground in the parking lot. He is in critical condition and has not yet been charged with a crime.
The two others who were in the Mercedes fled the scene. Cameron says witnesses at the scene provided descriptions of the men to officers, who then set up a perimeter. After receiving calls about suspicious activity in a nearby neighborhood, the two men were apprehended. K-9 teams were also able to track down two firearms that Cameron says belonged to the two.
Nigel Copeland, 20, of Middle Island, and L'Andre Simmons, 21, of Wyandanch, were each charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Simmons was also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance.
The incident follows two other shootings late Saturday night and early Sunday morning in Suffolk County. A man was killed in West Babylon. Another man was killed in Amityville.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced during a news conference Monday that the county is partnering with Crime Stoppers to award $500 fast cash to those who provide tips that lead to a gun seizure or arrest. The number is 1-800-220-TIPS.