Two men were shot outside the home of Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) Sunday afternoon as the congressman’s terrified 16-year-old twin daughters locked themselves in a bathroom.
Zeldin, who is the Republican nominee for New York governor, was on his way to a Columbus Day parade with his wife when the gunfire broke out.
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“After my daughters heard the gunshots and the screaming, they ran upstairs, locked themselves in the bathroom and immediately called 911,” Zeldin said in a statement. “They acted very swiftly and smartly every step of the way and Diana and I are extremely proud of them.”
The two individuals who were shot were discovered underneath the porch of the congressman’s home. There was blood everywhere, sources told local media.
Police do not believe Zeldin or his family were targets of the gunmen, the New York Post reports.
A law enforcement source said that while the shooting took place in front of Zeldin’s home in Shirley, it had “nothing to do with him.”
“Just happens to be irony,” the source told The Post, noting the investigation was still active.
Sources said one of the victims was shot in the chest, while the other was grazed. One of victims jumped over the congressman’s fence and knocked over a “Zeldin for governor” sign, and that there blood all over the property.
New York Post
“Law enforcement is currently at our house. My entire family is at home working with the investigators and providing the security footage from our home cameras,” he said.
This isn’t the first time this campaign that Zeldin has had to speak out about violence. A man tried to stab the Republican lawmaker during a campaign event in July.
He has made crime a centerpiece of his campaign to unseat incumbent Kathy Hochul, a Democrat.
“My daughters are shaken, but ok. Like so many New Yorkers, crime has literally made its way to our front door. My family is grateful to all who have reached out and we will provide another update when we can.”
Gov. Hochul released a statement expressing concern for the Zeldin family.
“I’m relieved to hear the Zeldin family is safe and grateful for law enforcement’s quick response,” the governor wrote on Twitter.
Following is Zeldin’s full statement:
“Thank you to everyone who reached out expressing concern regarding the shooting outside my home this afternoon around 2:18pm.
“My 16 year old daughters, Mikayla and Arianna, were at our house doing homework, while my wife, Diana, and I were in the car, having just departed the Bronx Columbus Day Parade in Morris Park.
“After my daughters heard the gunshots and the screaming, they ran upstairs, locked themselves in the bathroom and immediately called 911. They acted very swiftly and smartly every step of the way and Diana and I are extremely proud of them.
“The two individuals who were shot were laying down under my front porch and the bushes in front of our porch. My understanding is that they have been transported to area hospitals. I do not know their identities.
“Law enforcement is currently at our house. My entire family is at home working with the investigators and providing the security footage from our home cameras.
“My daughters are shaken, but ok. Like so many New Yorkers, crime has literally made its way to our front door. My family is grateful to all who have reached out and we will provide another update when we can.”
Rep. Zeldin
