Full Notification

PRESS RELEASE
August 30, 2016 4:30pm

Shooting Incident / Arrest Attempted murder 2^nd Degree Murder

At about 7am on August 29^th New Castle Police responded to a report of shots fired in the area of 382 King Street in Chappaqua. Responding officers found two victims with gunshot wounds.  One victim, Dennis Charney 65yoa of Chappaqua, was shot as he walked on the sidewalk after leaving The Little Store Deli. A second victim, a 56 yoa male also of Chappaqua, was hit by shotgun shot that passed through the front window of the deli.

Both victims were transported to Westchester Medical Center by the Chappaqua Ambulance Corp. Mr. Charney  is receiving treatment for non –life threatening injuries.  The second victim was treated and released.

The suspect, Hengjun Chao 49 yoa of Tuckahoe NY, was located in a parking lot across the street from the shooting.  New Castle Police recovered a loaded Mossberg 500 shotgun in Chao’s vehicle. Hengjun Chao was arrested without incident. He has been charged with Attempted Murder 2^nd Degree, a class A1 Felony.

Chao was arraigned by New Castle Justice Noah Sorkin and was remanded to Westchester County Jail without bail. He is due back in New Castle Justice Court on September 7^th at 10am.

Preliminary investigation indicates that Charney is known to Chao and was the intended victim of the shooting.  

There is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the New Castle Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to call the New Castle Police Detective Division at 914-238-7295, or the main desk at 914-238-4423.

Authority: Chief Ferry