Gateway Jewelry Exchange guard fires gun in dispute, police say

Gateway Jewelry Exchange in North Patchogue, where Suffolk police said... — Gateway Jewelry Exchange in North Patchogue, where Suffolk police said a security guard fired a gun in a dispute Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. Credit: Victor Alcorn

By Christine Chungchristine.chung@newsday.comDecember 9, 2017

An armed security guard employed at a North Patchogue jewelry store was arrested Friday evening and charged with first-degree reckless endangerment after firing a round during a dispute, Suffolk County police said.

Zahid Raja, 37, of Selden, fired his handgun at 5 p.m. on the premises of the store, Gateway Jewelry Exchange, at 499-13 Sunrise Hwy. North Service Rd.

Raja was intervening in an altercation between a store clerk and a customer over a business transaction, police said. There were no injuries.

Raja is licensed to carry the weapon, according to police.

He was arraigned on Saturday at First District Court in Central Islip.

Raja was released after paying bail of $2,000 cash, according to court records.

His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Police said the investigation is continuing. Additional details were not available on Saturday.