Christopher Fernandez, Oliver Schor charged with murder in 2022 backyard shooting of Bohemia man

Two men have been charged with murder in connection with the 2022 death of a Bohemia man who was gunned down on the deck of his backyard during a robbery, Suffolk prosecutors said Wednesday.

According to prosecutors, the attack on Michael Hartmann was random. Officials had not provided a motive for the shooting until Wednesday.

"Michael Hartmann was an innocent victim," Assistant District Attorney Frank Schroeder said during a court hearing in Central Islip. "He was at the wrong place at the wrong time."

Christopher Fernandez, 28, of Sound Beach, and Oliver Schor, 22, of Miller Place, were arrested Tuesday and charged with second-degree murder, Suffolk officials said. In a news release, police said that Schor was a fugitive, arrested in Lexington, South Carolina, and he would be transferred to New York to appear in court later. Fernandez appeared in court for his arraignment on Wednesday. 

Prosecutors argued that, around 6:36 a.m. on Nov. 2, 2022, Fernandez and Schor allegedly shot Hartmann, 49, multiple times in the chest and abdomen. The two allegedly entered the yard of Hartmann's Smithtown Avenue home, trying to rob him.

Fernandez, represented by lawyer Christopher Cassar, wore a green hooded sweatshirt and handcuffs as he approached the stand on Wednesday. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded following his arraignment.

Fernandez's father sat in the second row of the gallery, raising his head to peek at his son as court officers walked him in. Cassar later told reporters that he had come to support Fernandez, who was "shocked and confused" after the arrest.

Schroeder told Judge F. Scott Carrigan that Fernandez admitted the crime during a recorded interview. He added that the prosecution intended to use surveillance footage and cellphone records to build their case against Fernandez.

"He is not a stranger to the criminal justice system," Schroeder said. "Since 2014, he has had run-ins with law enforcement."

Though Fernandez has no prior convictions, court records show that he has been arrested multiple times since the 2022 shooting. His pending charges include larceny, several driving violations and criminal contempt.

If convicted, Fernandez faces 25 years to life in prison. He is scheduled to appear again Aug. 5.

"My client maintains his innocence," Cassar said in an interview after the hearing. "He has never missed court intentionally. He has stayed on Long Island, where he was arrested at his home. Those are not the actions of a murderer."

Newsday previously reported that after the attack, Hartmann was able to crawl back into his house as the shooters drove off in a sedan. That morning, Hartmann was home with three of his daughters, one of whom, Brittany, performed CPR on him. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The shooting occurred about half a mile from Edward J. 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, Meredith Hartmann, told reporters after the shooting. She 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.

Hartmann was hardworking, strong, honest and "a very straight-up guy," Meredith Hartmann said.

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

Relatives could not be reached for comment Wednesday.