After hours of manhunt, 30-year-old Gabriel DeWitt Wilson, a man described by authorities as a person of interest in the Long Island Stop & Shop fatal shooting that took place Tuesday morning, has been taken into custody.
Although authorities said they were actively looking for Wilson, they did not call him a suspect, but rather described him as “a person of interest” who they believe is the shooter.
Here’s what we know so far as information slowly coming to light about who exactly Wilson is and his role in the deadly shooting:
At least 1 dead, 2 injured
A man wearing all black walked into an office section of a Long Island Stop & Shop late Tuesday morning and shot three people, killing one, in the town of West Hempstead before fleeing the scene, Nassau police officials say County. That man would have been Wilson, the police say. He would have had a small gun.
It was not immediately clear whether the victims were somehow targeted. The person who died was a 49-year-old man. Two other victims were transferred to nearby hospitals; their identities have not been released and the nature of their injuries was unknown.
Gabriel Dewitt Wilson is associated with the supermarket where the shooting took place
According to Nassau County Police Department, Wilson is associated with the West Hempstead Stop & Shop store. Authorities say he was a former employee or currently works in the store.
Motive unknown and under investigation
The shooting took place in the store’s management office, on the second floor, according to authorities. Although it appears to be a work-related shooting, the motive is still unknown and is under investigation.
Hours of manhunt
Wilson, who police say they “believe” to be responsible for the 11:20 am guns at the Cherry Valley Avenue store, was taken into custody around 3 pm after a four-hour manhunt, police confirmed.
Authorities said Wilson fled the area after the shooting. Wilson was free for nearly four hours and was believed to have a small handgun. Earlier, a senior law enforcement officer said he may have jumped on a bus to escape (possibly to NYC) and was last seen west on Hempstead Turnpike.
Wilson was described as 6’2 ”, wearing a black hat, a black mask and a black sweatshirt.
Details of his fears were not immediately known.