66-year-old man sentenced in deadly Long Island nail salon crash
RIVERHEAD, Long Island (WABC) -- The man convicted of killing four people after barreling into a Long Island nail salon in 2024 was sentenced on Wednesday morning to 25 years to life.
Steven Schwally, 66, was convicted in June of several charges, including four counts of second-degree murder.
On Wednesday, he sat in court in his jail-issued uniform stoic as the judge handed down his ruling. Schwally even flipped off cameras in court.
The deadly Deer Park crash happened in June 2024. Surveillance video captured the moment when prosecutors say Schwally's Chevy Traverse plowed through the front glass doors of the Hawaii Nail Spa as employees and customers sat inside.
The four victims included the owner of the salon Ken Chen, two employees, Yan Xu and Meizi Zhang, and Emilia Rennack, a 34-year-old off-duty NYPD officer.
Loved ones of the victims were present for the sentencing and described how Schwally's decision to drink and get behind the wheel of a car forever changed their lives.
Rennack's husband said they had plans of having three children and all of their dreams and their future together was robbed from them.
A mother who was with her 12-year-old daughter at the time of the crash said she didn't know if her daughter was dead or alive and how they both will carry the physical and emotional scars with them for the rest of their lives.
At one point Schwally turned around and said he was terribly sorry and hoped the victims could forgive him, but prosecutors said he is only sorry for himself and is unrepentant.
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