NYPD cop killed as she got nails done for colleague's wedding after drunk driver smashed into salon

A police officer was killed while getting her nails done for a wedding on Friday night after an alleged drunk driver crashed into the salon.

30-year-old Emilia Rennhack was at Hawaii Nail and Spa in New York City gearing up for another officer's wedding celebration when 64-year-old Steve Schwally reportedly drove his vehicle through the shop front . A witness recounted to CBS News seeing Schwally swerving dangerously and attempting to overtake other vehicles in a zone with a speed limit of 30 mph, even shouting at pedestrians before the devastating incident occurred.

This horrific event resulted in three fatalities and left eight others wounded. Emilia, who had tied the knot with fellow officer Carl Rennhack just last fall, was remembered by friends as a "generous" soul.

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A heartbroken friend expressed their shock on Facebook saying: "Emilia, I'm in disbelief that you're gone... you were such an amazing, sweet, young woman. You just got married and had your whole life ahead of you."

They mourned the "tragic" loss and said that Emilia "did not deserve this." The grief is palpable for Carl, who, according to an unnamed police source speaking to the New York Post , is in "bad shape," with the source adding: "His wife was his life."

Carl's mother also conveyed her son's deep distress, while paying tribute to her daughter-in-law. She said: "She was beautiful, she was very kind, she was very compassionate, she was very special."

The Police Benevolent Association mourned Emilia Rennhack's untimely demise, grieving the "tragic loss." They addressed the public via a heartfelt social media appeal saying: "Please join us in praying for her family, friends and coworkers."

The Det. Simonsen Foundation, established in memory of Det. Brian Simonsen who was tragically killed during a robbery at a Queens cell phone store, paid tribute: "The Simonsen Foundation is beyond devastated to learn about the tragic passing of Emilia Rennhack. You could always see them at our events and they always honored Brian. We will miss Emilia and we will NEVER forget her. To Carl, we love you beyond measure and we are here for you forever."

Mourning alongside, the NYPD Pulaski Foundation shared their grief, saying it "comes together in the shadow of a tragedy of losing one of our members Police Officer Emilia Rennhack (Kowalczyk) whose sudden departure from this world has left us in profound shock and sorrow." They continued by expressing the ineffable sadness that words could not convey: "In times like these, words often fail to capture the depth of our emotions, the enormity of our loss and the acute sense of disbelief that accompanies an unexpected goodbye."

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Meanwhile, Suffolk County Police revealed the devastating aftermath of when Schwally crashed into the back of a Long Island salon on Friday, causing horror as employees and patrons were trapped inside. Firefighters discovered four lifeless victims at the horrific crash scene, including Rennhack, Jiancai Chen, 37, from Bayside, Queens; Yan Xu, 41, from Flushing, Queens; and Meizi Zhang, 50, also from Flushing as reported by WABC .

Alleged culprit Schwally, found semi-conscious in the wreckage, was soon under arrest and rushed to a local hospital, Newsday reveals, facing charges of drunk driving with more serious charges looming. Authorities recall how apparently inebriated Schwally had been careening through a strip mall parking lot in Deer Park before obliterating the salon's front window at approximately 4:30pm.

Chaos ensued post-crash as captured in video footage showing first responders navigating the mayhem at the strip mall, home to both a liquor store and Dominican eatery while police sealed off the vicinity. With urgency, an emergency helicopter alighted nearby, ferrying a victim to medical care.

Edward Schwally, his brother, spoke out after the crash, alluding to other offenses, citing a time he drove his brother to probation for rebuffing a breathalyzer years prior in either 2010 or 2011. A distraught Edward expressed: "It's like my worst nightmare come true. I feel terrible about innocent people getting hurt." He also confessed that his brother had a tendency to "bad-mouth everyone."

Edward spoke about his sibling, saying: "He could be vicious at times. I mean I feel terrible for him that it ended up happening. There's nothing I can really do for him. It's out of everybody's hands. It's in the hands of the courts. He is not going to see the light of day. He's finished. There is no way to get out of that."