Bohemia shooting: Man killed in his backyard

A Bohemia man was shot early Wednesday morning in his backyard — and family tried but were unable to save him, Suffolk police said.

Michael Hartmann, 49, was pronounced dead at the Smithtown Avenue home after the shooting about 6:35 a.m., police said.

"Two individuals came into the backyard and fired several rounds at him, striking him one time in the upper part of his body — it looks like it may be around his neck or face area," Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said.

Hartmann was able to crawl back into his house as the shooters drove off in a sedan headed north, Harrison said. Either a rifle or shotgun was fired in the shooting, he added. Police did not provide a description of the suspects.

Their proximity to Hartmann and the time of the shooting suggest he may have known them, the commissioner said, adding that the investigation is still "in its infancy." 

At the time, Hartmann was home with three of his daughters, Harrison said.

Hartmann's sister, Meredith Hartmann of Jacksonville, Fla., said another daughter had just left for school and his wife had headed to work.

His oldest daughter, Brittany, 23, a recent nursing school graduate, performed CPR on him, Hartmann said.

The shooting occurred about half a mile from the Edward J. Bosti Elementary School.

In a note to parents, Reza Kolahifar, assistant superintendent for administration and personnel at the Connetquot Central School District, said: “We have been assured by our security department and Suffolk County Police Department that this is an isolated incident, and there is no threat to students or staff at Bosti Elementary School."

The youngest of five siblings, Michael Hartmann grew up on the South Shore in Suffolk County and worked in construction, his sister said. He used his building skills to convert his family's modest two-bedroom cottage into a home where he, his wife and their daughters could live comfortably, she said.

Hartmann was hardworking, according to his sister, strong and honest with people and "a very straight-up guy." 

He loved his wife of more than 20 years "madly," and he was always quick to help out family.

"You always knew where you stood with him," his sister said. 

Colleen Basile, whose 8-year-old daughter is a third-grader at Edward J. Bosti Elementary School, called the shooting nerve-wracking.

“The neighborhood is very safe usually,” Basile said. “So for this to happen, it was a big shock.”

Basile said she kept her daughter at home Wednesday because it was her birthday, though she would have felt safe sending her to school — the same school she attended two decades ago.

“I always felt very safe going to school there and I knew that they would take care of her,” she said. “That’s part of the reason why I wanted my daughter to go to the same school as I did.”

Police ask anyone who may have information about the shooting to call Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS.