Couple Dies In Murder-Suicide; Baby, Guns Found In Home: Cops

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — A couple is dead following a murder-suicide shooting at their Hampton Bays home, according to Suffolk County Police. The engaged couple's year-and-a half old baby was found safe in another room in the house, Southampton Town Police said.

Southampton Town Police Chief Steven Skrynecki said, at a press conference held at police headquarters Thursday morning, that several weapons, including long rifles, a handgun, and bows and arrows were found at the house. In addition, Skrynecki said that there was evidence of alcohol at the scene, which was being looked at as a possible contributing factor, while drug use was not.

Unlike county police, Skrynecki did not confirm that the deaths were a "murder suicide" but said it was "definitely a consideration."

The shootings were not related to a home invasion or gang activity, Skrynecki said, with the gunfire taking place within the "confines" of the home.

Southampton Town Police received a call around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday from a "distraught" woman who said there was a gunshot at the residence, located at 49 Ponquogue Ave. Police found Jonathan Fava, 25, and Kelly Lynn Bray, 24, with gunshot wounds. They were taken to hospitals and were declared dead shortly after arriving, police said.

The second female and the couple's baby were both in the home, police said. They were not hurt.

The baby has been placed into a family member's care, police said. The female caller, a 27-year old woman who knew both Fava and Bray, is cooperating with the police, authorities said.

When asked if the "family friend" had been involved in the shooting, Skrynecki said it was "premature to speculate on exactly what happened. There were three people in the home, very possibly in close proximity, when the shot or shots were fired." There is no love triangle angle, he said.

It has not yet been determined who fired the first shot, Skrynecki said.

There was no record of domestic violence calls to the house, Skrynecki said. Skrynecki called the pair engaged, did Bray and Fava, who both wrote "engaged" as their Facebook status; county police said they were "boyfriend and girlfriend."

There was nothing to indicate "that it was a significantly tumultuous relationship. There might have been some bickering, but there was nothing outstanding, to our knowledge," Skrynecki said.

Child Protective Services is now involved in the case and "may have been involved" with the couple and their child — according to their social media pages, the two shared a daughter — in the past, Skrynecki said.

Discussing the weapons found, the chief said no permit is needed for a long rifle; neither Bray nor Fava had a permit for the handgun, Skryneki said. And, while he said it was still to be determined if one of the weapons found had been used in the shootings, he said police believe they have the weapon in their possession.

While Fava and Bray have no arrest records — the 27-year old female caller has a "minor" record, the police chief said —in August, a call was made to the house after someone expressed "concern" about Fava's long gun, he said.

Although Skrynecki said Fava has no record, in March, 2016, police said he fired shots and then aimed a shotgun at houses and animals in Hampton Bays — and then turned the gun on the cops, authorities said.

According to Southampton Town Police, a call was made in the 2016 incident reporting gunshots and a subject carrying a shotgun on Pinewood Lane. Neighbors reported that the man was standing in the roadway pulling over cars and aiming the shotgun at houses and animals in the neighborhood, police said.

Officers searched the area and located the man at a nearby beach on Corwin Lane, police said. The man then turned the gun on the officers and failed to comply with police directions to drop the gun, police said. After a brief struggle and the use of an electronic control device, Fava was arrested, police said.

Also on the same day, police learned of an altercation with another male which took place at Fava's residence shortly before his arrest, authorities said. Empty shotgun casings were found outside the residence, police said.

In September, 2019, police were also called to the home regarding an animal complaint, Skrynecki said.

When asked if Wednesday's shooting could be deemed a "mystery," Skrynecki said, "Something occurred there, yet to be determined."

Southampton Police detectives and Suffolk County police homicide detectives are investigating. Anyone with information should call Suffolk County Police homicide detectives at 631-852-6392.