Man arrested in East Islip drive-by shootings

EAST ISLIP, New York (WABC) -- Suffolk County Police have arrested a suspect accused of shooting multiple homes in and around East Islip in drive-by shootings.

Kyle Rowlinson, 24, is charged with reckless endangerment and was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.

Police said three homes were struck by gunfire in East Islip between May 26 and May 27. A car was also damaged in the spree.

"Just lucky they didn't put a couple of bullets through the window over here, because I pretty much sleep downstairs," said neighbor Robert Capriola.

All the shootings happened within a three-hour period beginning at about 10:30 Monday night.

Linda Hofrichter, of Great River, said she heard the shots but didn't know what they were. "I heard what I thought were firecrackers and it ends up being gunshots," she said. "My dog barked as he usually does, and thought nothing of it until I woke up and found out that it was actually gunshots to my neighbors home very frightening

Police aren't saying why Rowlinson singled out the homes, but they don't believe he acted alone.

"We want to stress to the public that these shootings are targeted," said Detective Lt. Darrel Simmons, of the Suffolk County Police Department. "They are not random in nature."

"Part of the investigation is to determine the motive for this crime," he said.

Detectives are continuing their investigation and anyone with information on these incidents is asked to call the Third Squad at 631-854-8352 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.