3 charged after family feud spills onto Sunrise Highway in bloody brawl caught on video
A family feud spilled onto Sunrise Highway in North Lindenhurst on Wednesday, as a man and his two teenage sons, recently arrived from England, attempted to settle a dispute with relatives in a bloody brawl that landed them behind bars, Suffolk law enforcement officials said.
The incident began when Patrick O'Connor, 38, threatened a “distant relative” after an argument at traffic court in Hauppauge, a prosecutor said during arraignments Thursday. After noticing the relative, and a second one, were following him on the roadway, O'Connor called his teenage sons to assist him, the prosecutor said.
James O'Connor, 19, arrived with his three brothers — ages 16, 12 and 4 — and crashed his Toyota Tundra into the truck of the relatives who were following his father at about 12:30 p.m., causing the Tundra to land on its side in the shoulder of Sunrise Highway.
The two relatives then got out of their truck, as did Patrick O'Connor and his teenage sons, and the melee ensued.
Patrick and James O'Connor, and the 16-year-old, were all charged with second-degree assault, a felony. James O'Connor, who prosecutors said was driving without any car seats in his truck when he crashed into his relative, was additionally charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
All three O'Connors were ordered held by District Court Judge Karen Kerr on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond after pleading not guilty at their arraignments Thursday. The O'Connors were identified as residents of England who have been in the United States for two weeks staying in Huntington Station. Kerr ordered them to surrender their passports.
James O'Connor has been working part-time for a paving company since his arrival here, according to his court-appointed defense attorney Eric Besso of Sayville. O'Connor's 16-year-old brother, who was represented by Christina Carpenter of the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County, is not working or going to school, prosecutors said.
The attorneys argued the bail was “excessive” as they sought their clients' release from custody.
“That is excessive bail for a 16-year-old boy with no criminal record,” Carpenter told Kerr.
She argued it was the relatives following her client's father that led to the fight.
“There's a little bit of uncertainty here as to who is … the victim here,” Carpenter told Kerr.
Besso and Carpenter both declined to comment outside the courtroom. Michael Elbert of Melville, who represented Patrick O'Connor, could not be immediately reached for comment.
Video of the incident shot by a photographer with an office nearby went viral on social media Wednesday. It shows James O'Connor's vehicle on its side on the right-hand shoulder of the road, with other vehicles stopped in the roadway. Two males are seen fighting, one armed with what prosecutors called a “pickax handle.” A third male then joins the fray, also swinging a stick or other object, as passersby stop their vehicles and attempt to intervene.
Patrick O'Connor appeared for his arraignment with a portion of his nose missing from the fight. James O'Connor appeared with an arm in a sling and swelling below both his eyes. Besso said his client suffered a broken hand.
Prosecutors said the two relatives also suffered injuries that required stitches. They were treated and released from a local hospital, police said.
The O'Connors were ordered by Kerr to stay away from the relatives they scuffled with. James O'Connor was also ordered to stay away from the two younger siblings he drove to the incident.
They are due back in court Jan. 25.
With John Valenti
A family feud spilled onto Sunrise Highway in North Lindenhurst on Wednesday, as a man and his two teenage sons, recently arrived from England, attempted to settle a dispute with relatives in a bloody brawl that landed them behind bars, Suffolk law enforcement officials said.
The incident began when Patrick O'Connor, 38, threatened a “distant relative” after an argument at traffic court in Hauppauge, a prosecutor said during arraignments Thursday. After noticing the relative, and a second one, were following him on the roadway, O'Connor called his teenage sons to assist him, the prosecutor said.
James O'Connor, 19, arrived with his three brothers — ages 16, 12 and 4 — and crashed his Toyota Tundra into the truck of the relatives who were following his father at about 12:30 p.m., causing the Tundra to land on its side in the shoulder of Sunrise Highway.
The two relatives then got out of their truck, as did Patrick O'Connor and his teenage sons, and the melee ensued.
James O’Connor, 19, and Patrick O’Connor, 38, at their arraignments in Central Islip Thursday. Credit: John Roca; James Carbone
Patrick and James O'Connor, and the 16-year-old, were all charged with second-degree assault, a felony. James O'Connor, who prosecutors said was driving without any car seats in his truck when he crashed into his relative, was additionally charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
All three O'Connors were ordered held by District Court Judge Karen Kerr on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond after pleading not guilty at their arraignments Thursday. The O'Connors were identified as residents of England who have been in the United States for two weeks staying in Huntington Station. Kerr ordered them to surrender their passports.
James O'Connor has been working part-time for a paving company since his arrival here, according to his court-appointed defense attorney Eric Besso of Sayville. O'Connor's 16-year-old brother, who was represented by Christina Carpenter of the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County, is not working or going to school, prosecutors said.
The attorneys argued the bail was “excessive” as they sought their clients' release from custody.
“That is excessive bail for a 16-year-old boy with no criminal record,” Carpenter told Kerr.
She argued it was the relatives following her client's father that led to the fight.
“There's a little bit of uncertainty here as to who is … the victim here,” Carpenter told Kerr.
Besso and Carpenter both declined to comment outside the courtroom. Michael Elbert of Melville, who represented Patrick O'Connor, could not be immediately reached for comment.
Video of the incident shot by a photographer with an office nearby went viral on social media Wednesday. It shows James O'Connor's vehicle on its side on the right-hand shoulder of the road, with other vehicles stopped in the roadway. Two males are seen fighting, one armed with what prosecutors called a “pickax handle.” A third male then joins the fray, also swinging a stick or other object, as passersby stop their vehicles and attempt to intervene.
Patrick O'Connor appeared for his arraignment with a portion of his nose missing from the fight. James O'Connor appeared with an arm in a sling and swelling below both his eyes. Besso said his client suffered a broken hand.
Prosecutors said the two relatives also suffered injuries that required stitches. They were treated and released from a local hospital, police said.
The O'Connors were ordered by Kerr to stay away from the relatives they scuffled with. James O'Connor was also ordered to stay away from the two younger siblings he drove to the incident.
They are due back in court Jan. 25.
With John Valenti
Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.
The case against alleged Gilgo killer ... FeedMe: Holiday hot spots ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV
The case against alleged Gilgo killer ... FeedMe: Holiday hot spots ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV
