Steven Schwally has been found guilty on all 30 counts brought against him, including four counts of second-degree murder, following the deadly crash that destroyed a Deer Park, New York, nail salon. The jury reached its verdict on the afternoon of June 4, officially holding the 66-year-old accountable for the catastrophic events that unfolded on June 28, 2024.
According to True Crime News, the crash occurred at Hawaii Nails and Spa, located in a strip mall on Grand Boulevard. Surveillance footage played for the jury showed Schwally’s Chevy Traverse barreling into the storefront at 78 miles per hour. Witnesses at the scene described the impact as a violent explosion that left bodies everywhere.
The four victims who tragically lost their lives were salon owner Jiancai “Ken” Chen, employees Yan “Jenny” Xu and Meizi Zhang, and 34-year-old off-duty NYPD officer Emilia Rennhack. Per CBS News, nine other people were injured in the wreck, and ABC 7 noted that the four fatalities were pinned beneath the vehicle. Per the outlet, prosecutors revealed that after the crash, Schwally’s blood alcohol level was .17, which is more than twice the legal limit.
Schwally was reportedly absent from his sentencing
Per Fox 5, the legal proceedings took place in a Riverhead courtroom, though Schwally was not present to hear the guilty verdict. His defense attorney, Christopher Cassar, stated that Schwally had been hospitalized following a massive heart attack last month.
CBS noted that Cassar had previously argued that his client was a handicapped driver who suffered a locked leg on the gas pedal, and he even suggested that the blood alcohol test administered to Schwally was inaccurate. During the trial, Cassar claimed, “Testimony that he had to listen to that was not true, tried to paint him as an evil person, which is not true. He could not take that stress anymore.”
Despite the defense’s arguments, PIX 11 reported that the evidence presented by the prosecution was overwhelming. They alleged that he had consumed 18 beers the night before the crash and had even stopped at a liquor store to purchase a Long Island iced tea earlier that day.
Detective Brian Whitehead testified that Schwally admitted to drinking until 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. the previous night and claimed he did not remember much, though he did recall the airbags deploying inside the salon. Immediately following the collision, Schwally reportedly told those at the scene, “I haven’t broken any laws, I’m a Marine.”
According to Connecticut News 12, court documents show that he had a prior DWI conviction stemming from a March 2013 incident where he struck a mailbox in Dix Hills and was later found asleep behind the wheel with the engine running. His driving history also includes a 2001 citation for using a handheld mobile phone while driving and numerous speeding tickets across multiple states dating back to the 1980s.
CBS noted that the courtroom atmosphere was heavy with emotion as the verdict was read. Loved ones of the victims, including Emilia Rennhack’s husband, NYPD Detective Carl Rennhack, and many of her police colleagues, were present throughout the trial.
Following the verdict, PBA President Patrick Hendry spoke about the loss, saying, “[Emilia’s] husband lost his best friend. As police officers, we will never forget our sister, Police Officer Emilia Rennhack. We will carry on all of the positive choices that she made.”
One juror, appearing emotionally exhausted after the trial, shared with CBS, “I am hoping that there is some type of closer for all of the families that sat behind us, because we felt it too.” Chief Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Allen Bode expressed relief at the outcome, noting, “We’re very thankful for the jury’s verdict today, they ratified the fact this was not an accident. This was a crime.”
According to the outlet, Schwally had previously turned down a plea deal that would have offered 22 years to life in prison. Now, he faces a potential sentence of 27 years to life behind bars. Schwally is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12.
In the past few months, there have been a few high-profile cases that were allegedly DUI or DWI. Not so long ago, Tiger Woods allegedly crashed his car because of an alleged DUI, after which he still refuses to hire a driver. Unfortunately, last month, a California woman’s alleged drunk driving resulted in the death of a couple.
Published: Jun 8, 2026 03:15 pm