Three shot at one-night rental house party in North Sea, police say

Three people were shot and wounded early Tuesday at a North Sea house party with more than 20 attendees, Southampton Town police said.

"Multiple" 911 calls about 2:30 a.m. reported shots fired at the Long Springs Road home. Police officers arrived to find partygoers leaving.

Detectives and State Police K-9 units conducted a search of the area, but police had made no arrests.

Police did not release the victims' names. They took themselves to a hospital, police said, complicating the investigation.

The most-seriously wounded victim was later airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital. All three suffered what police described as "non-life-threatening injuries."

Southampton Town police Lt. Susan C. Ralph said investigators believe more than 20 people were at the party along with "multiple weapons." Investigators were trying to determine who fired the weapons and the number of shots, Ralph said.

The home was rented for one night in violation of Southampton Town code and detectives were in the process of locating and interviewing witnesses, Ralph said.

Additional details were not immediately available.

According to public records, Christopher J. Esposito, 45, owns the home. He declined to comment Tuesday afternoon.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact detectives at 631-702-2230. Tipsters can also call the Tips Hotline at 631-728-3454.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”