Long Island Man Slain In Stabbing In Motel Room Fight: Cops

SHIRLEY, NY — A Long Island man was stabbed to death in his motel room on Friday night, Suffolk police said.

Officers responded to the Shirley Motel on Montauk Highway after a 911 caller reported a man was "stabbed during a fight in his motel room" at around 5 p.m., police said, adding that "there was a group of people inside the room when the altercation occurred."

The man was identified as James Vaughn, 60, of Mastic.

It was not immediately clear why he was at the motel. Patch has reached out to police for clarification.

Vaughn was taken to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue where he was pronounced dead, according to police.

The investigation is continuing, police said.

The hotel's manager, Dejas Ahir, told Newsday he did not hear anything and only learned about the stabbing when he saw an ambulance arriving at the scene to treat Vaughn.

“I am not sure what was the problem,” Ahir told the outlet. “This is the first time I am looking at this problem.”

Anyone with information about Vaughn's slaying is asked to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS, a confidential police hotline.