An attempted robbery prompted the dispute that left two men hospitalized with gunshot wounds in Rye Brook Saturday, according to police.
Initial witness accounts suggested there was a dispute between two residents at 3 Roanoke Ave. and "invited guests" at their second-floor apartment, but an ongoing investigation has revealed more details.
The victims and suspects knew each other, and there was a dispute, but it's still not clear which side ended up on the wrong end of a gun in the shooting that followed. The gunfire erupted after the victims "tried to defend themselves," Rye Brook Chief Gregory Austin said.
One victim suffered a gunshot wound to the head, and remains in critical condition, Austin said. A second victim was shot in the buttocks and was listed in stable condition. Both men underwent surgery at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla.
Austin said the robbery "wasn't a random act" and the robbers had chosen the apartment and victims ahead of time. No arrests have been made, but police are continuing their investigation.
"At this point, it's not clear what they were after," Austin said. "We're still piecing this together."
Anyone with information on Saturday's shooting can call the Rye Brook Police Department's tips line at 914-937-0090, or e-mail tips@ryebrook.org.
