Police: Man Shot After Report Of Suspicious Vehicle In Westbury

WESTBURY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) –  Community leaders in Westbury, New York, were out Saturday to make sure there was no violent reaction after a young black man was reportedly shot by Nassau County police.

Police said they were called to the scene on Clinton Street around 4 a.m., after receiving a call regarding a suspicious vehicle.

Police sources tell 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten the officers approached the man, 25-year-old Levaughn Tingle, and put their flashlights on themselves so the driver would know they were police.

Sources say the driver then sped off, attempting to run them over, when one of the officers opened fire, hitting the driver several times.

Police say Tingle's injuries are non-life-threatening.

According to police, the car Tingle was driving was reported stolen. Tingle also had a warrant out for his arrest for absconding, police said.

Rev. Alistair Sealy didn't have to go far to help—he lives on the block.

"All I heard were shots early this morning, like 4:30," he told 1010 WINS.

Sealy learned the driver of the car sped away. The man may have tried to run over the officer before police opened fire.

Sealy said he wants to make certain young black men know what to do when approached by police to avoid confrontations like the one on Clinton Street.

"Something needs to be done about people being shot unarmed," he said.

Bishop Lionel Harvey works closely with Nassau County police to promote good community-police relations.

He came to the scene to make certain it doesn't become another Ferguson.

"The community is hearing a lot of different things and it's kind of very important to get to the root of the problem with the tensions that have been going on all around the nation," he said.

You Might Also Be Interested In: