Veterans Home Resident Accused Of Shooting At Office, Security Guard

BAY SHORE, NY — A resident of a home for veterans on East Main Street faces charges over a shooting incident at 9:10 p.m. Wednesday.

After a dispute, Clifton Dent attempted to enter the office of the United Veterans Beacon House, then fired a handgun through the office door, Suffolk police alleged. They said Dent then went outside and fired the gun several times in the direction of a security guard for the building who was in the parking lot. After that, he ran away, police said.

Patrol officers responding to the area located Dent in a convenience store parking lot on Union Boulevard, police said. He was taken into custody at 9:42 p.m.

Dent, 28, was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree criminal Possession of a weapon, Suffolk police said. He was held overnight at the Third Precinct and was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday at First District Court in Central Islip.