Suffolk County man convicted in deadly Deer Park drunk driving crash

A Suffolk County jury convicted Steven Schwally of second-degree murder after prosecutors said he drove drunk at high speed into a Deer Park nail salon, killing four people and injuring nine others. The verdict, reached on the second day of deliberations, put one of Long Island’s deadliest drunken-driving crashes on a fast track to sentencing.

Jurors found the 66-year-old guilty on all charges, including four counts of second-degree murder, along with assault, aggravated vehicular homicide and DWI. Prosecutors said Schwally’s blood alcohol content was .17, more than twice the legal limit, when he crashed a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse into Hawaii Nail & Spa at 796 Grand Boulevard on June 28, 2024.

Authorities said Schwally had spent hours drinking and driving around Deer Park before the collision. Prosecutors said he bought two bottles of Montebello Long Island Iced Tea Cocktail at a liquor store in the same strip mall, left the Commack Motor Inn where he lived by himself, and was seen on surveillance video blowing through four stop signs, crossing five crosswalks, nearly striking pedestrians and running a red light before entering the wrong lane and slamming into the salon at about 78 mph.

The crash killed salon owner Jiancai Chen, 37; employees Yan Xu, 41, and Meizi Zhang, 50; and Emilia Rennhack, 30, an off-duty NYPD officer who was newlywed to a detective. Nine other people were hospitalized, including a 12-year-old girl, and Schwally was also injured. Prosecutors said he told police he had drank until 3 or 4 a.m. the night before and remembered being in the salon with the airbags deployed.

Defense attorney Christopher Cassar argued that Schwally was not intoxicated, said a leg problem kept him from lifting his foot off the gas pedal, and challenged the blood alcohol test as contaminated. Before trial, Schwally rejected a plea deal that would have carried 22 years to life, saying, “I’m not interested.” He was not in court when the verdict was announced because he was hospitalized in intensive care after a recent heart attack.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said the crash was a selfish choice to drink and drive and thanked the victims’ families for their dignity throughout the case. Schwally is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 12, 2026, and prosecutors said they hope he can be present so the families may address him in court.