By JOSEPH KELLARD
Felix Castillo, 22, of Lancaster Place and Wilmer Romero, 23, of Union City, N.J., were arrested and charged with first-degree assault. Police said they were trying to buy marijuana from Robert Schneider, 21, of Island Parkway and Patrick Mullare, 21, of California Place, who were arrested and charged with criminal sale of marijuana.
According to detectives, Schneider, of Island Parkway, and Mullare were in a car on Lancaster Place when they were approached by Castillo and Romero, who began a verbal argument. During the argument, police said Romero shot Schneider in the right side of his head and right upper chest.
They were conducting a drug transaction involving marijuana, Detective Sgt. John Azzata told the Herald. Schneider was the victim of the shooting, but was also the seller of the half-pound of marijuana... Mullare was a witness to the shooting, and also a co-defendant with Schneider in the sale of the marijuana. Azzata added the gun was not recovered.
Schneider was taken by private auto to Long Beach Hospital where he was treated and transported to Nassau University Medical Center by private ambulance. After Schneider was released, he surrendered to police at the Fourth Precinct in Hewlett on Nov. 18, and was arrested and charged with second-degree criminal sale of marijuana.
Mullare was arrested on the night of the incident and on the same charge Schneider received. Both Castillo and Romero were arrested on Nov. 17 and charged with assault in the first degree.
