Christopher Miller, of Deer Park, shot and killed his father, retired Suffolk Police Det. John Miller, officials say

A retired Suffolk police detective who was also a longtime volunteer with the Wyandanch Volunteer Fire Company was fatally shot at his Deer Park home on Wednesday, allegedly by his adult son, whom police said they later arrested.

John Miller, 75, was shot and killed by Christopher Miller, 43, following an argument at their Bruno Lane home, Det. Lt. Kevin Beyrer, the commanding officer of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Unit, said during a news conference near the site of the shooting.

Christopher Miller is charged with second-degree murder and is scheduled for arraignment in Central Islip on Thursday morning, Beyrer said. It was unclear from court records if the defendant had an attorney on Wednesday evening.

John Miller's death sent shock waves through the police and fire communities, who began honoring Miller as they grieved.

"He was tremendous, to know him was to love him" said Suffolk Legis. Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park), a longtime friend of Miller's, who was known as Jack to friends and colleagues. "He was the salt of the earth and a tremendous public servant on so many levels."

Lou Civello, president of the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association, called Miller’s death a "terrible tragedy" and said the retired detective remained a legend in the First Precinct and a pillar of his community. Miller retired in 1995 after more than 25 years with Suffolk police, but he remained active in police circles for years.

"He epitomized self-sacrifice and dedication, which made him the ideal public servant," Civello said. "He had a profound effect on generations of Suffolk County police officers and will be sorely missed by all who had the good fortune to know him."

A Suffolk police SUV blocked the entrance to Bruno Lane, a dead-end street lined with two-story houses, for several hours on Wednesday. Young people taking advantage of the sunny, springlike weather rode bikes and skateboards on adjacent Seaman Neck Road, where police cordoned off a part of the sidewalk in front of a large corner home across the road from Paumanok Elementary School.

The events that led to the fatal shooting began to unfold on Monday, when Christopher Miller was involved in a car accident with a motorist in Stony Brook, Beyrer said. Christopher Miller got into a fight with the other driver and was taken to a hospital emergency room for treatment of his injuries.

Miller, unaware of his son’s whereabouts, attempted to report Christopher Miller missing the following day, Beyrer said. A Suffolk police officer arrived at his home on Tuesday to complete a missing persons report and later informed the retired detective that his son was in an emergency room.

Miller picked up his son from the hospital on Tuesday evening and brought him to his home, where Christopher Miller had been living since filing for divorce, according to Beyrer.

On Wednesday morning, Christopher Miller went into his room, got a shotgun, went downstairs and began arguing with his father and “shot him multiple times,” Beyrer said.

The homicide commander declined to discuss a motive for the 7:30 a.m. shooting.

Christopher Miller left the shotgun in the home, the detective said, and fled to a nearby shed north on Seaman Neck Road. Suffolk police officers responded to a call of a disturbance by a man in the shed later that morning. The same police officer who responded to the missing persons report responded Wednesday morning.

"He recognized Christopher Miller, brought him back to the house in order to turn him over to his father at which time he determined ... that his father was dead," Beyrer said

Christopher Miller was then taken into custody, Beyrer said, and later taken to a hospital for additional treatment of the injuries he suffered in Monday’s accident.

Friends said John Miller was deeply committed to public service and his community. In addition to his 25-plus years with the Suffolk County Police Department, he was also a member of the Wyandanch Volunteer Fire Company for 57 years, serving as its chief four times and its president twice. Christopher Miller was also a longtime member of the department.

"Jack was a 57-year example of what a firefighter should look like," Wyandanch Chief Jarvis Brown said. "He gave his life and soul to the fire department. If a firefighter ever needed something, Jack had his back. This is a tough time for the Wyandanch fire department. The man was beloved throughout Long Island."

American flags were lowered to half-staff and black-and-purple mourning bunting hung at the Wyandanch fire station Wednesday evening in Miller's honor. Even at 75, Miller responded to calls, often driving engines and ladder trucks to fires, Brown said.

Miller, a trustee of the SCPD’s First Precinct Brotherhood, was an advocate for retired and current officers. He raised money and was a volunteer for the Wounded Warrior Project, which assists injured former servicemen and servicewomen.

Miller helped plan funerals for Long Island first responders who died after 9/11 and assisted the American Red Cross after Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

In 2022, Donnelly recognized Miller’s years of service by giving him a lifetime achievement award during a meeting of the Town of Babylon Fire Chiefs Association.

Donnelly, a longtime volunteer with the Deer Park Fire Department, said Miller’s generous spirit inspired him and others to get involved with public service.

"He was such a good role model for so many people," Donnelly said. "He would light up a room when he entered it. He had such a passion for volunteerism. This is a tremendous loss for the community."