2 shot dead in shooting spree on Long Island in NY, 1 outside a hospital; person in custody

2 killed in shooting spree on Long Island in NY

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — An off-duty jail guard shot a nurse’s aide to death outside a hospital early Wednesday morning, then fatally shot her uncle and wounded her grandfather at a nearby home, police said.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said it appeared to be a domestic dispute. The suspect was later taken to the same hospital, complaining of difficulty breathing.

Stacie Williams, a 45-year-old nurse’s aide who worked the night shift in the maternity ward of Nassau University Medical Center, was found shot multiple times at about 1 a.m. while on a break outside the Long Island hospital’s visitor’s entrance.

In the other shooting about 3 1/2 miles away in Hempstead, a 56-year-old man was fatally shot. Lt. Kevin Smith said he was the uncle of the suspect, Nassau County Correction Officer Kim Wolfe, 43. Wolfe’s grandfather was shot in the leg.

The hospital spokeswoman, Shelley Lotenberg, referred other questions about the shooting to police, who did not offer details on a possible motive. It was not clear when Wolfe would be arraigned, nor whether she had an attorney.

Wolfe also abducted her 23-year-old niece before fleeing the scene in a car, Smith said.

The car was pulled over by police at 5:45 a.m. and the suspect surrendered peacefully, Smith said. Her niece was not harmed.

Police said the suspect was armed, and they would test the firearm to determine whether it was used in the shootings.

Williams worked at the hospital for 23 years, Lotenberg said. “Our sympathies and prayers go out to the family, friends and colleagues,” she said.

Smith said Williams’ son, who rushed to the hospital after hearing of the shooting, was struck by a car while crossing the street in front of the medical center. His name and condition were not immediately released.

Wolfe is a correction officer of 19 years who worked the midnight shift supervising inmates at the county jail next to the hospital, said Liz Consolo, a spokeswoman for the Nassau County sheriff’s office. She was not scheduled to work on Wednesday morning, the spokeswoman said.

Consolo declined to comment on Wolfe’s disciplinary record or any other details of her employment.

Later Wednesday morning, Wolfe was taken to NUMC complaining of having difficulty breathing, Smith said. Lotenberg did not immediately comment on the woman’s condition.