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, court filings show.

Now police have a suspect in custody.

Muttontown Police on Aug 20 stationed by Willis Gate to investigate a bloody crime scene at an Underhill Blvd parking lot.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, detailed in a sworn affidavit filed 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 Thursday that police recovered a massive 3,000 pounds of Marijuana -- that's 1 1/2 tons -- in the warehouse on Underhill Boulevard in Syosset.

The discovery supported 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 a short stretch of the road at Woodcrest Drive, Syosset, and blocked the road with vehicles 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.

Sheriff vans queue up today outside the District Courthouse, where a shooting suspect faces Attempted Murder and Loaded Gun charges.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 the State of New York. She also ordered him to retain his own lawyer. Zhang spent Thursday night in Nassau Correctional Center, unable to post bail.

Chen, however, was released after pleading "Not Guilty" on 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 him, and he was released to the Pre-Trial Services Department with no bail.

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.