Shayna Staton of Central Islip found shot to death in her home, police say

Suffolk County police are looking for the killer of a Central Islip woman who was found fatally shot in her apartment Monday night.

Shayna Staton, 39, was found dead between her bed and the wall, with multiple gunshot wounds, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison said Tuesday.

Police were called to the apartment on Hawthorne Avenue after a family member dialed 911 and reported Staton wasn’t breathing. The relative said they had not spoken with Staton for about 20 hours, Harrison said.

There were no 911 calls regarding the shooting or reports of shots fired, Harrison said.

Police do not know how long she was in the apartment or when the shooting occurred within those 20 hours, Harrison said. There were no signs of a robbery, he said.

 Family members were grieving Tuesday and still struggling with news of the loss.

“She was the sweetest girl,” her mother Denise McMillan said sobbing Tuesday. “When she first came into my life, she was awesome and did so much.”

Her family said she was a track star in high school and went on to teach autistic and disabled children. She was a supervisor overseeing group homes for the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, family members said.

She had also raised her 18-year-old daughter, Saniya, and was looking forward to seeing her go to her prom Thursday and graduate Friday from Bay Shore High School, her brother Kelvin McMillan Jr. said.

“My sister was the best person ever. I just can’t,” he said. “She was perfect. She was beautiful. She was so unique and I’d talk to her every day.”

Shaquana Staton of Bellport, said she spoke with her sister every day up until Monday.

“She’s sweet and caring and the protector of us all. She would be there no matter what,” Shaquana Staton said. “I know she’s OK and the family’s going to be OK. I miss my sister already but we have to stay together and stay strong."

Homicide Squad detectives ask anyone with information to call 631-852-6392 or Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS.

With Cecilia Dowd

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.