An armed robber who killed four people at a Medford pharmacy before he made off with a bag full of prescription drugs Sunday morning is now the subject of an intense manhunt.
Suffolk County police said a 911 caller reported at least two victims had been shot during a robbery at Haven Pharmacy on Southaven Avenue at 10:20 a.m., just 20 minutes after the store opened. Upon arrival, Fifth Precinct police officers walked into the wake of a drug store massacre.
“The suspect was armed with a handgun and should be considered armed and extremely dangerous,” police said in a statement while asking for tips in the case.
The victims were identified as two patrons and two employees. The employees include Raymond Ferguson, 45, of Centereach, and 17-year-old Jennifer Mejia of East Patchogue. The customers were Bryon Sheffield, 71, of Medford, and Jamie Taccetta, 33, of Farmingville.
There were no survivors. Investigators are trying to piece together what led to the bloodbath.
“I don’t know what happened,” Rene Mejia, of Medford, the teen’s father, told the Associated Press. “She was supposed to graduate Thursday.”
Jennifer had worked part-time at the pharmacy while attending Bellport High School, where she was finishing her senior year. Her friends described her as thoughtful, religious young woman.
The suspect is described as a white man with a thin build, approximately 5-feet, 8-inches tall, who was unshaven or had a dark beard and mustache and short, dark hair. He was wearing a white baseball hat, sunglasses, a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, dark shoes and was carrying a black backpack.
The gunman was last seen fleeing the scene on foot eastbound on Southaven Avenue.
Haven Pharmacy is a family-run drug store tucked in a small cluster of medical offices.
Homicide Squad detectives are asking anyone with information to call them at 631-852-6392 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.