Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the indictment of Tavion Elting, an 18-year-old from East Patchogue, on felony weapons charges. The charges follow an altercation in the food court of Smith Haven Mall during one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
District Attorney Tierney commented on the seriousness of the incident, stating, "A loose loaded gun and a hot-tempered brawl in crowded mall on Black Friday - this incident was just one breath away from becoming a total nightmare." He emphasized that they would seek a prosecution outcome reflecting the severity of the situation to deter similar future incidents.