In a surprising turn, Long Island police arrested a young couple, David Laffer and his wife Melinda, for the four murders at Haven Pharmacy on Father’s Day.
Haven Pharmacy surveillance cameras caught what appeared to be an older, bearded, strung-out man — who many speculated to be a drifter — killing four people in cold blood at the store. The man was shown first shooting two store employees before gunning down two unsuspecting customers. The man then filled a backpack with oxycodone and fled.
That bearded homeless drifter is now alleged to be clean-shaven 33-year old David Laffer who lived in a two-story home in the same neighborhood as the pharmacy reports the New York Post. His 29-year old wife, Melinda, was arrested for allegedly driving the getaway car.
According to the Post, Laffer was known as a quiet man and avid hockey fan. He earlier made headlines for proposing to his wife at an Islanders game. However, it has been suggested that both he and his wife became addicted to painkillers, and after Laffer lost his job (and health benefits), he also lost access to the drugs.
Charges are still pending in the shootings, but Laffer is most likely to be charged with first-degree murder. If convicted, Laffer could spend the rest of his life in jail, though it is unlikely that he would face the death penalty.
In New York, first-degree murder is generally the intentional killing of another where there are aggravating circumstances such as:
- killing a police officer
- killing multiple people
- having prior murder convictions
Absent the aggravating circumstances, intentional killings are generally considered second-degree murder.
Given the multiple killings caught on camera, and the methodical nature of the close-range shootings, David Laffer is likely to face first-degree murder charges for the murders at the Long Island Haven Pharmacy.
Related Resources:
- Find a New York Criminal Defense Attorney (FindLaw)
- L.I. pharmacy massacre: Police take Medford resident David Laffer in custody in murder investigation (New York Daily News)
- New York Criminal Laws (FindLaw)
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