Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a North Massapequa man was arraigned today for allegedly firing dozens of shots out of his basement apartment, striking two homes, and nearly hitting a child asleep in his bed in August. A search warrant later recovered more than a dozen firearms, including assault weapons, and high-capacity magazines and more than a pound of cocaine.
Steven Frigand, 58, was arraigned before Judge Robert Bogle on Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony); Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (a B felony); two counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); six counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony); 53 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a D felony); seven counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm (an E felony); Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (a D felony); 18 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor); Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor); Obstructing Governmental Administration in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); and Resisting Arrest (an A misdemeanor).
The defendant pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $2 million cash, $4 million bond, and $20 million partially secured bond. If convicted, Frigand faces up to 20 years in prison.
“This defendant allegedly indiscriminately sprayed gunfire from his basement apartment, terrorizing his North Massapequa neighborhood, striking homes and narrowly missing a sleeping child,” said DA Donnelly. “A search warrant revealed a dangerous cache of firearms in the home, including assault weapons, as well as more than half a kilogram of cocaine. No resident should ever have to fear gunfire erupting in their neighborhood or piercing the walls of their home. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep dangerous illegal weapons out of our communities.”
DA Donnelly said that on August 20, 2023, at approximately 12:45 p.m., Steven Frigand allegedly fired dozens of shots from the basement apartment of 2 Sussex Avenue in North Massapequa.
Several of the shots hit a house behind the 2 Sussex address, and many others tore through a fence and hit a different house next door to the address.
Two of the bullets entered the home next door, one of which narrowly missed a child asleep in his bed and the homeowner who had gone to check on the child.
When police arrived at the scene, the defendant was in the basement and allegedly refused to come out for more than an hour despite police orders.
The defendant was taken to Nassau University Medical Center once he exited the home.
A search warrant executed on the basement of the home later that day recovered:
- 18 firearms, including six assault rifles, seven additional rifles, four shotguns and a revolver
- 40 high-capacity magazines
- Hundreds of rounds of ammunition
- Multiple shell casings, bullets, and bullet fragments
- More than 27 ounces of cocaine and drug paraphernalia
Frigand was arrested in North Massapequa by members of the Nassau County Police Department on August 20, 2023.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rivka Shuter of the Narcotics, Firearms, and Gangs Bureau. The defendant is represented by Nicholas Ramcharitar, Esq.
The charges against the defendant are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.