Muttontown Police arrest suspect in Syosset shooting - and seize 3000 pounds of Marijuana

An altercation last month in a Long Island parking lot ended after one man was shot in the face, say police.

Now they have a suspect in custody.

Muttontown Police stationed by Willis Gate on Aug 20 blocking off a bloody crime scene on Underhill Blvd.Photo byC.J. Teevan

Police arrested Sunde Zhang, 37, Wednesday evening, September 25, 2024, at 6:35pm on charges of attempted murder and possession of a loaded gun, described in a sworn affidavit in connection with the man's arrest.

In the affidavit, a Nassau County Detective says Zhang shot the victim "in his face causing serious physical injury". That victim's current condition was not disclosed.

Arguing for high bail, an Assistant DA told the court at Zhang's arraignment on Thursday that police recovered a massive 3,000 pounds of Marijuana -- 1 1/2 tons -- at the warehouse on Underhill Boulevard in Syosset.

The discovery got charges of Felony Cannabis possession for defendant Zhang and a second man, Junjie Chen, 24, who allegedly accompanied Zhang to the warehouse that day, court records show. Both men live in College Point, Queens, in different residences, according to police, who entered their addresses on their arrest papers.

Yellow crime scene tape flutters in the breeze Aug. 20 on Underhill Blvd in Syosset, after a man was reported shot there.Photo byC.J. Teevan

A person close to the investigation said police were initially called to 175 Underhill Boulevard in Syosset the day of the incident. Crime scene investigators taped off a stretch of road from Woodcrest Drive and stationed vehicles there to block it for hours.

No motive for Zhang's alleged shooting was provided by the Assistant DA. Police have also not explained why it took a month to file the violent Felony charges, although the injured victim might not have been able to cooperate until now.

Sheriff vans queue up at the Nassau courthouse, where a Queens man was charged with Attempted Murder, Loaded Gun and Cannabis possession.Photo byC.J. Teevan

Local residents, however, were well aware of the incident, which police say in court papers took place in broad daylight at 11:05 a.m. on August 20, 2024, by the busy warehouse parking lot. Muttontown Police re-routed traffic for hours while detectives conducted an investigation.

At his arraignment on Thursday, Zhang pleaded Not Guilty to the three Felony charges. Judge Jaclene Agazarian ordered him held on $1 million bail bond, citing seriousness of the charges and Zhang's connections outside New York. She also ordered him to retain his own lawyer. Zhang spent Thursday night in Nassau Correctional Center, unable to post bail.

However, his co-defendant, Junjie Chen, was released after pleading Not Guilty to a single charge of Criminal Possession of Cannabis in the 1st degree, a D Felony. Judge Agazarian assigned a public defender, Uniondale lawyer Stanley Rubin, to represent Chen and he was released to the Pre-Trial Services Department with no cash bail requirement.

A Muttontown Police Officer stands guard after closing traffic on Underhill Blvd. last month while police investigate a shooting.Photo byC.J. Teevan

Zheng is due back in court on September 30. Chen is scheduled to appear in the Mineola courthouse on October 3.

Both defendants are considered innocent of all charges at this stage.