Suffolk police search for suspect in LIU Post equestrian center stabbing

Suffolk County police were continuing the search for Eddy Jameh Villalobos Novoa, 44, after a stabbing at the North Shore Equestrian Center on the LIU Post campus in Brookville left one worker hospitalized and turned a campus workplace into an active assault case. Police said there was no danger to the public, but detectives were still looking for Novoa and said he was wanted for assault and possession of a weapon.

Investigators said the fight broke out around 10 p.m. Friday, June 20, 2026, at the equestrian center, where both the victim and Novoa worked. Police said the two were intoxicated when they argued. The victim has since been released from the hospital.

Novoa was last seen wearing a white or gray jacket and a navy blue or black baseball cap, details police said may help identify him if he is still in the area. Brookville Police Chief Kenneth Lack said, “The public should call us if they see him,” underscoring that the search remained open.

The incident took place at the North Shore Equestrian Center, which LIU says is on its Post campus at 720 Northern Blvd. in Brookville, NY 11548. The university describes LIU Post as a historic 330-acre campus on Long Island’s Gold Coast, and says the equestrian center is the only institution on Long Island with an on-campus riding facility. LIU also said the center has been operating for nearly 50 years and supports equestrian practice and Intercollegiate Horse Show Association competition.

LIU said the people involved in the stabbing were not affiliated with Long Island University and that the incident occurred on property operated and managed by the North Shore Equestrian Center. That distinction matters for students, staff and nearby residents who know the site as a university-branded facility but not as a university-run workplace.

The case has put attention on how quickly a dispute at a leased campus facility can escalate into a serious criminal investigation. With Novoa still wanted and police urging the public to report any sighting, the focus in Brookville remains on locating the suspect and keeping the campus-adjacent area calm.