MIDDLE ISLAND MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR RIVERHEAD SHOOTING THAT LEFT TWO INJURED

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Paul Houpe, 30, of Middle Island, was sentenced to ten years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision for a 2022 shooting that injured two people at “Mambo Grill & Lounge” in Riverhead.

“This was an act of brazen and senseless violence from a felon and gang member whose parole supervision status did not deter him from shooting two people during a dispute. Fortunately, no one was killed,” said District Attorney Tierney. “The defendant will now be held responsible for his crime.”

According to the investigation and admissions at his guilty plea allocution, on May 28, 2022, Houpe, a known gang member, was present at “Mambo Grill & Lounge,” a downtown Riverhead restaurant and lounge, when he got into a verbal dispute with two other patrons. The altercation continued onto the rear patio area, at which point Houpe displayed a loaded pistol and fired numerous rounds from point blank range, striking the two patrons multiple times. Houpe then fled the scene. The Riverhead Town Police Department responded to the scene and during their investigation, recovered video surveillance of the crime, numerous shell casings, and Houpe’s cell phone. The two victims were transported to Peconic Bay Medical Hospital where they were treated for gunshot injuries.

The investigation further revealed that in an attempt to evade prosecution, Houpe altered his appearance in the days following the shooing by changing his hair color from blonde to black. The United States Marshals Service assisted the Riverhead Town Police Department in apprehending Houpe at his place of employment in Riverhead. At the time of the shooting, Houpe had been released from prison and was on parole for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Sell, a Class B felony.

On February 2, 2023, Houpe pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable John B. Collins, to one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony, and two counts of Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a Class C violent felony. On April 21, 2023, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. Houpe was represented by Christopher Brocato, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney William Richards of the Major Crime Bureau.

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