Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A Hempstead man was taken into custody Tuesday evening on a charge of criminal possession of a firearm in the South Shore community of Hewlett, Nassau County, according to a press release issued by the Nassau County Police Department. The arrest was made at approximately 8:05 p.m. on June 23, 2026, and was handled by NCPD Fourth Squad Detectives, the unit responsible for covering the South Shore precinct zone that includes Hewlett and its surrounding neighborhoods.
Per the NCPD’s official announcement, the arrest stems from a criminal possession of a firearm incident, though the precise circumstances surrounding how the firearm came to the attention of law enforcement — whether through a traffic stop, a tip, a confrontation, or another law enforcement contact — have not been publicly disclosed. Police have not yet confirmed whether the weapon was loaded, what type of firearm was involved, or whether anyone else was present at the scene or taken into custody alongside the primary suspect.
The suspect is described only as a man from Hempstead, a densely populated city that borders Hewlett to the north and west along Nassau County’s South Shore. His identity, age, and any prior criminal record have not been released in connection with this arrest, and details remain limited at this stage of the investigation. It is not yet known whether additional charges are pending or whether the investigation has expanded beyond the initial firearm possession count.
Nassau County’s Fourth Squad, which handled this investigation, is one of several detective squads within the NCPD’s Detective Division that focuses on serious crimes including weapons offenses, and their involvement signals that this arrest was treated as more than a routine patrol stop. However, the full scope of what led detectives to the suspect on the evening of June 23 has not been made public, and police have not yet confirmed the specific block or address in Hewlett where the arrest took place.
No injuries have been reported in connection with this incident. The arrest itself appears to have been made without incident, though police have not confirmed this detail explicitly. Residents in the Hewlett area were not reported to have faced any road closures or evacuation orders as a result of the law enforcement activity, and no emergency traffic impacts were logged in connection with this case.
Location & Road Context
Hewlett is a residential hamlet situated along Nassau County’s South Shore, bordered by Woodmere to the east and Valley Stream to the west. The community sits adjacent to major surface roads including Peninsula Boulevard and Rockaway Turnpike, both of which serve as significant local connectors between South Shore communities and key commuter corridors. Nassau County as a whole is one of the most traffic-dense counties on Long Island, with our local incident database recording 677 accidents in Nassau County — a figure that underscores the volume of law enforcement and emergency activity that occurs across the county on any given day.
Hewlett itself is a quieter, primarily residential community, and weapons-related arrests in the area draw particular attention from local authorities given the proximity to schools, commuter rail stations, and densely populated neighborhoods. The LIRR’s Hewlett station on the Far Rockaway Branch places a significant number of daily commuters in and around the hamlet each evening, including during the 8:05 p.m. hour when this arrest occurred.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The Nassau County Police Department’s Fourth Squad Detectives are leading the investigation into this criminal possession of a firearm arrest, according to the official NCPD press release. Under New York State Penal Law, Criminal Possession of a Firearm — specifically under Penal Law § 265.01-b — is classified as a Class E felony when it involves an unregistered or unlicensed firearm, though the specific subsection applicable to this case has not been confirmed by police. A Class E felony in New York carries a potential sentence of up to four years in state prison, depending on the defendant’s prior record and the specific facts of the case.
Arraignment information, bail status, and the name of the assigned prosecutor have not been publicly released. It is not yet confirmed whether the suspect was held overnight or released following processing. The investigation is considered ongoing, and the NCPD has not indicated whether additional suspects or co-conspirators are being sought in connection with the incident.
Broader Impact
Firearms arrests on Long Island have taken on added significance in recent years as Nassau and Suffolk counties have both seen law enforcement agencies increase enforcement of New York’s updated concealed carry and firearm possession statutes — changes that followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision and subsequent state legislative responses. A Criminal Possession of a Firearm charge at the Class E felony level can carry lasting consequences for a defendant beyond incarceration, including the permanent loss of firearms rights under both state and federal law. Residents with information related to this or any other weapons incident in Hewlett are encouraged to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers or the Fourth Squad directly through the NCPD’s official channels.