Police: Man Shot, Wounded Former Hospital Colleague In Chappaqua Deli

CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Two people were hospitalized and a man has been charged after gunfire erupted at a deli in the quiet hamlet of Chappaqua in Westchester County.

CBS2's Christine Sloan reported the suspect, 49-year-old Hang-Jun Chao, is a former researcher who sued a prominent medical center after being fired.

Investigators said the shooting was an act of revenge as Chao was shooting at a former colleague.

As CBS2's Tony Aiello reported, the suspect had a smirk on his face as he left court late Monday, 12 hours after he allegedly opened fire with a shotgun at Lange's Little Store and Delicatessen just before 8 a.m.

The business is visited by almost everyone in the hamlet – including Bill and Hillary Clinton – on a regular basis.

Bullet holes could be seen in the store's front glass door and police were seen looking in the trunk of a red car in a parking lot across the street as part of the investigation.

"I heard a sharp report," said Tom Duggan of Chappaqua. "I looked in the mirror because I thought it was a backfire," said Tom Duggan.

Duggan was driving past the deli at the time. He had no idea it was gunfire aimed at his neighbor who lives in a multi-million dollar home. The man who was shot was Dr. Dennis Charney, a renowned neuroscientist who serves as the dean of the medical school at Mount Sinai.

"I think he came up here intent on shooting someone," said Newcastle police Chief Charles Ferry.

Police believe Chao was driven by revenge. He is a medical researcher, born in China, who was fired by Mount Sinai in 2009.

Court papers showed Chao sued, lost at trial, and lost again on appeal. Charney is the man who made the decision seven years ago to fire Chao for improprieties with his medical research.

Police believe Chao grew to hate Charney and targeted him.

"It wasn't even recent. That's even more disturbing," said Ray Potter of Chappaqua. "That is very disturbing that something like that would happen."

Chao's Twitter page is filled with angry rants against the legal system and claims that judges are corrupt.

A judge on Monday ordered him held without bail, and signed an order of protection banning any contact with Dr. Charney.

The incident happened about a mile from the home of Hillary and Bill Clinton and some residents said they were worried when they heard the gunshots.

"That was kind of in the back of mind when I went out the door to see what was going on because President Clinton frequents Lange's when he's in town," resident Richard Meyer said. "That part of it was obviously very scary."

Charney and a second person, who was not an intended target, were both taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, police said. Both victims are expected to survive.

Police believe Chao was tracking Dr. Charney and knew he would be at the deli Monday morning. They say the attacker returned his shotgun to the trunk of his car and waited for police to arrive.

Charney was still in the hospital late Monday while the other victim was released.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Castle Police Detective Division at (914) 238-7295 or the main desk at (914) 238-4423.