Man Opens Fire in L.I. Office Building, Kills Ex-Girlfriend, Self

NEW YORK (AP)  -- A man shot his ex-girlfriend to death at her office Friday and wounded a supervisor who came to her aid, then killed himself, police said.


Terry Sheridan Reports

William Lynch entered the Aflac insurance office at Sycamore Plaza around 1 p.m. and asked to speak with his former girlfriend, Tiana Stokely, Suffolk County police said. It was unclear how Lynch got into the building, which has a keypad lock.

Stokely led him into supervisor Gary Destefano's office, where Lynch pulled out a .40-caliber handgun and began firing, eventually turning the gun on himself, Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick said. The supervisor was shot at least once in the chest, he said.

Both Lynch, 37, and Stokely, 20, died at the scene. Destefano was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center, where he underwent surgery, police said. They didn't know his condition.

Lynch, of Bellport, was wanted on a charge of violating a court order to stay away from Stokely, of Mastic Beach, police said.

Aflac spokeswoman Laura Kane offered the company's sympathies but provided no details on the shooting. ``We are closely monitoring the situation,'' Kane told Newsday in a statement, ``and are ready to assist in any way.''

Police evacuated the office complex. No other injuries were reported.