BRENTWOOD MAN INDICTED FOR SHOOTING INTO A CENTRAL ISLIP HOME IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ATTACK

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Joaquin Orantes Franco, 42, of Brentwood, was indicted for Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Reckless Endangerment, and other related charges, for allegedly shooting into a home occupied by his girlfriend and several of her family members after she told him she did not want to move in with him.

“The allegations in this case represent an egregious act of domestic violence that put innocent lives at risk,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Our office takes acts of domestic violence extremely seriously, particularly those involving firearms and the endangerment of children.” 

According to the investigation, on October 20, 2024, the victim and her two children were visiting her parents at their home Central Islip. While inside the residence with multiple family members, including at least five children, the occupants heard a loud bang from outside. One of the downstairs residents ran upstairs to report a bullet was shot through the downstairs of the home, penetrated through several walls, a television, and a child’s bedroom. The bullet narrowly missed one of the adult occupants who at the time was watching a program on the television that the bullet passed through. 
There were multiple young children in the house who were playing in the downstairs apartment when the bullet penetrated the walls of the home. Home surveillance footage captured the shooting, and the family could allegedly see the shot came from Orantes Franco’s truck which immediately drove away. 

Following an investigation, police located both Orantes Franco and a 9mm semiautomatic pistol. At the time of its discovery, the pistol was loaded with a high-capacity magazine with a live cartridge jammed in the chamber. Members of the Suffolk County Police department further conducted a search of Orantes Franco’s truck and allegedly found a live pistol cartridge and one expended cartridge casing. The 9 mm pistol was examined and determined to be unserialized. 

On November 18, 2024, Orantes Franco was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz for the following charges contained in the indictment:  

•    Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C felony;
•    One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony;
•    One count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a Class D felony;
•    Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; and 
•    Four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor. 

Justice Horowitz ordered Orantes Franco held on $100,000 cash, $250,000 bond or $1,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Orantes Franco is due back in court on December 19, 2024, and faces 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by William Keehon, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Tara Laterza of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detectives Austin Phillip and Robert Escalona of the Suffolk County Police Department Third Squad. 

###

Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.
Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

725 Veterans Memorial Highway ● Building 77 ● Hauppauge, NY 11788 ● 631.852.3185
SuffolkCountyNY.gov/DA ● x.com/RayTierneyDA ● instagram.com/RayTierneyDA