UPDATE: Shooting victim was targeted, police say
Suffolk County police said at a press conference at headquarters Wednesday afternoon that they believe the Mattituck horse trainer shot and killed in Setauket Tuesday night was targeted – though a motive remains unclear at the moment.
Det. Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick, commanding officer of the department’s homicide squad, said at the conference that “all options are on the table” as far as suspects go, though the shooter or shooters remained at large after the Tuesday night fatality.
Ross Reisner, 50, was shot in the chest while inside his home on Upper Sheep Pasture Road shortly after 8 p.m., police said. A resident of the home said the shot was fired from outside the home, through a window.
Det. Lt. Fitzpatrick said a second victim was inside the house and was shot in the arm, though declined medical treatment. Police did not release the person’s name.
Sixth Precinct police officers responded to his Mr. Reisner’s home after a 911 caller reported that a man had been shot. He was transported to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Mr. Reisner trained at Maple Lane Farm on Cox Neck Road in Mattituck. Diane Nelson, who runs the farm said “it’s a somber day at the farm.”
Shanette Barth Cohen, executive director of The Hampton Classic Horse Show, said Reisner was trained in both children and adults and competed in what’s called hunter competition, putting it simply “the rider’s job is to make the horse look as nice as possible,” as opposed to show jumping which involved speed.
“He is certainly a well-known and much liked trainer on Long Island. He’s been involved in the community for more than 25 maybe 30 years. It’s such a shock and horrible tragedy. It’s a big loss for the horse community on Long Island,” she said.
“He was very well liked really a kind person to both the people in his life and the horses in his life, and he will really be missed.”
Detectives are asking anyone with information on this case to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
