Alexander Castillo, of the Bronx, convicted in Port Jefferson pool hall shooting

A Suffolk County jury has convicted a Bronx man of assault and weapons possession for shooting two men following a dispute at a Port Jefferson pool hall in December 2022, prosecutors said Monday.

Alexander Castillo, 27, was convicted on charges including two counts of first-degree criminal use of a firearm, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and four counts of second-degree assault.

Castillo’s attorney, Ian Fitzgerald, noted the jury acquitted his client of attempted murder and first-degree assault, but otherwise declined to comment.

"Violent crime such as the double shooting committed by the defendant here has a devastating impact on our community and cannot be tolerated," Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said in a statement. 

Prosecutors said the shooting took place on Dec. 28, 2022, when Castillo played pool for several hours at the Bilal Billiards pool hall and also placed bets on the games, "which resulted in mounting financial losses."

Castillo left the pool hall at about 7:05 p.m., but returned approximately three minutes later wearing a ski mask and hat, and carrying a loaded firearm, prosecutors said the evidence established at trial. Castillo displayed the loaded gun and demanded money in an attempt "to take back his losses from his opponent," prosecutors said.

Castillo and two men struggled over the gun, prosecutors said, with the fight spilling onto the street. Castillo shot one man in the groin area and a second man in the chest, prosecutors said, and he fled before police arrived.

Both victims were treated at hospitals. Suffolk police arrested Castillo in Manhattan on Feb. 10, 2023. He faces up to 25 years in prison when he’s sentenced on Oct. 3.

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.