Four suspects were arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon on Wednesday after police said they shot at a Riverhead home where children were inside.
According to Riverhead police, on Wednesday at 8:53 p.m., police units in the Roanoke Avenue area heard what sounded like "rapid gunfire" coming from the area of 3rd Street.
One of the units, police said, observed what appeared to be a tan Ford Taurus leaving the 3rd street area; the officer followed the car.
A traffic stop was initiated on Peconic Avenue and police found four occupants in the vehicle.
Additional units, police said, responded to the 3rd Street area and were notified by an occupant of a home on the street that someone had just shot at their house. The house was occupied by several adults and young children at the time.
Empty shell casings were found in the roadway in front of the home, police said.
All four occupants of the vehicle were placed under arrest after officers said they observed similar shell casings on the floorboard of the vehicle. Police said while the suspects were being placed into custody, one of the individuals was found to be in possession of a loaded .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun.
A search of the vehicle revealed similar spent shell casings, police said.
Police arrested Jeffrey Despeines, 21, of Centereach, and charged him with reckless endangerment in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and in the third degree, all felonies.
Also arrested was Eric Baldwin, Jr., 18, of Bellport; he was charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a misdemeanor. Jordan Harrell, 18, of Medford, was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree; Jasmine Parsons, 19, of Riverhead, was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree
All four suspects were transported to the Riverhead Police Department, where they are being held for arraignment.
