Gunman Arrested In West Hempstead Stop & Shop Shooting: Police

WEST HEMPSTEAD, NY — A shooting at a Stop & Shop in West Hempstead on Tuesday sparked a furious manhunt in Nassau County, with more than 150 police officers searching for the man wanted for the crime. Police arrested 30-year-old Gabriel DeWitt Wilson at an apartment building in West Hempstead just hours later.

The horror began just after 11 a.m. Police said they received calls for shots fired at the Stop & Shop, located at 50 Cherry Valley Ave., at 11:19 a.m.

According to police, Wilson, who is an employee at the store, entered for his shift. He immediately went to an office on the second floor, police said, and shot a man and a woman there with a handgun. He then went to a second office, where he shot and killed a 49-year-old man who was a manager at the store, police said. Wilson then fled the scene, police said.

"Over the past several months, we in Nassau County have watched on our television screens active shooters devastate communities," said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. "But today, that reality came home to Nassau County. And our hearts go out to the families and the victims of this crime."

Police locked down the store and ordered multiple schools in the area to go into lockout as a safety precaution. Students were still learning, but no one was allowed in or out of school buildings.

Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said the department received many calls about the possible location of the shooter, who had known addresses in both Hempstead and Long Beach. He was eventually located at an apartment building at 100 Terrace Ave. in Hempstead.

Ryder said that a SWAT unit was dispatched to the scene, and the building was surrounded by patrol officers from both the Nassau County and Hempstead Village police departments. Ryder said that officers entered the building "very tactically" to keep the other residents there safe.

According to Ryder, Wilson tried to flee the building through the lobby, but was arrested by officers as he tried to escape.

"Too often, we sit here and talk about active shooters that happen around the country. Today, it's in our backyard," Ryder said. "We're going to do everything we can to help make sure we prevent this from happening again. But it's the community that has to come forward. It's the community that hat has to tell us about people like [Wilson]."

Ryder said the police have not yet established a motive for the shooting. According to Ryder, Wilson has a "small" criminal background, and was once taken in as a mental health-aided case by police. Ryder did not elaborate on what his criminal background was.

The shooting sparked statements from many local officials, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Sen. Charles Schumer, who both said they were monitoring the situation.

"Make no mistake about it, the Senate will move forward with legislation to stop the epidemic of gun violence," Schumer said.

Stop & Shop President Gordon Reid issued a statement, saying the company was "shocked and heartbroken" by the shooting.

"Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, our associates, customers and the first responders who have responded heroically to this tragic situation," Reid said. "At this time, we are cooperating fully with local law enforcement on the investigation. The store will remain closed until further notice, and we appreciate the Long Island community's support during this difficult time."

Union officials also called on the state and federal government to take action to stop the epidemic of gun violence that has plagued the country for years.

John R. Durso, president of Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW, which represents many of the workers at the store, issued a statement about the shooting.

“The working people at Stop & Shop are essential workers and ensured that all of our communities, including West Hempstead, had what they needed to navigate the pandemic. The last year has been one full of resiliency, but also one of great worry," he said. "These workers have been through a tremendous amount and should never have to fear for their safety. We as a society must recognize that gun violence is a workplace safety issue and that as part of this healing, we must make changes to ensure that this doesn’t happen again. We owe it to our essential workers.”

Marc Perrone, the president of United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million workers in food and retail, also called on the government to take action.

“As the union for the brave New York grocery workers caught in the crossfire of this horrific shooting, UFCW is heartbroken and our prayers are with our members, their families, and the loved ones of all the victims. America’s grocery workers have been bravely putting their health at risk on the frontlines of COVID-19 every day to keep our families fed. This latest mass shooting is a tragic reminder that the pandemic is not the only threat these workers face," he said. “While we have rightfully focused on doing more to protect essential workers from the risks of the pandemic, more must be done by our corporate and elected leaders to address the epidemic of gun violence that threatens workers' lives, and continues to infect more and more workplaces."