New Yorkers have turned a Lengthy Island nail salon the place a newlywed NYPD cop and three others have been mowed down Friday right into a group memorial — as new particulars emerge in regards to the accused drunk driver charged with their mindless deaths.
Steven Schwally, 74, already had no less than one drunken driving conviction on his document following an arrest on March 25, 2013 — however pled responsible and bought a slap-on-the-wrist three-year probation.
He additionally had an arrest in 2001 however particulars of that case weren’t instantly out there.
In the meantime, neighbors and strangers alike have flocked to Hawaii Nail & Spa in Deer Park the place Schwally is now accused of plowing into the constructing and leaving a path of demise.
On Sunday, rows of flowers and candles piled up exterior the boarded-up storefront in reminiscence of off-duty NYPD Police Officer Emilia Rennhack and three others who have been killed within the tragic afternoon crash — Jiancai Chen, 37, Yan Xu, 41 and Meizi Zhang, 50.
9 others have been injured, together with a 12-year-old lady, when cops mentioned Schwally plowed his SUV into the small store.
He has been charged with drunk driving and is anticipated to face different fees.
Rennhack, 30, who married fellow NYPD cop Carl Rennhack in September, was having her nails executed in anticipation of a pal’s marriage ceremony that night time, based on sources.
“Emilia was an amazing cop and an excellent higher particular person,” one cop informed The Publish. “She at all times went the additional mile to assist cops and on a regular basis those that she got here throughout.
“‘No’ wasn’t in her vocabulary,” the officer mentioned.
Born Emilia Kowalczyk, the younger cop graduated from Worldwide Excessive College in Prospect Heights and went on to attend the John Jay School of Legal Justice, the place she performed soccer for the varsity’s Bloodhounds sports activities groups.
She joined New York’s Most interesting in 2018 and was most just lately assigned to the 102nd Precinct in Queens.
She married Det. Carl Rennhack on Sept. 7 in Baiting Hole on Lengthy Island.
On Friday, Rennhack was on the nail salon on Grand Boulevard round 4:30 p.m. when the SUV plowed into the store, killing or critically injuring greater than a dozen clients and staff.
Sources mentioned Schwally was driving aggressively and yelling from behind the wheel earlier than the crash
“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the lack of Police Officer Rennhack, whose life was taken too quickly,” NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban mentioned on X.
“We provide our help to Emilia’s household, mates and associates throughout this extremely troublesome time,” Caban wrote. “Please hold our officers and her family members in your ideas and prayers.”
In one other put up, Mayor Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain, additionally supplied his condolences.
“My deepest prayers and condolences exit to the household and family members of Officer Emilia Rennhack, who was hit and killed whereas off responsibility by a drunk driver in a mindless automotive crash,” the mayor mentioned.
“It’s by no means simple to get phrase that we’ve got misplaced one in all our personal devoted public servants — irrespective of the circumstances,” he mentioned. “Relaxation in peace, Officer Rennhack.”
A wake might be held for the fallen cop on Friday on the New Hyde Park Funeral House on Lakeville Highway in New Hyde Park, adopted by a funeral service at midday on Saturday on the residence.
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