By Liz McBreen
Twenty-one-year-old Willie Steven of Norfolk, Virginia and 24-year-old Jeremy Harold of Virginia Beach were arrested on May 9 by Virginia Beach Police with the help of Nassau County Police.
Steven and Harold are believed to have been in a car outside the Ferngate Drive home of music promoter Freddy Antal on April 26. According to Nassau County detectives, they waited while Derek Cason, 21 and Domonique McClain, 22, both also from Virginia, tried to rob the home. Police say the two occupants of the car were there with the understanding that they would split the profits of the robbery with Cason and McClain.
On the morning of April 26, Antal heard noises outside his home at about 6:30 a.m. According to Kevin Smith at the County Police Public Information Office, he went to see who was outside, and he was confronted by two armed men (Cason and McClain) who forced him back inside the house.
A neighbor, witnessing the commotion, called the police, who sent two patrol cars to surround the house. The two intruders soon emerged from the house, with McClain holding a gun to Antal's head. The police officer who had been stationed at the rear of the house saw this, and immediately alerted the fifth precinct that there was a hostage situation.
Hearing this, the suspects opened fire at the police officer, who returned fire. Cason was shot in the abdomen and fell, and McClain was struck in the leg, but was able to flee on foot. He was captured the next day in Elmont. Cason was brought to Mercy Medical Center for treatment and was later released into police custody. Steven and Harold allegedly left the scene in a 1998 black Chevy Malibu, and alluded police for almost two weeks.
Police believe the incident was not a random attempt. According to detectives, Vincent Fioranelli, 21, an associate of Antal, gave McClain a detailed description of the inside and outside of the music promoter's home in exchange for money. Fioranelli soon after was charged with conspiracy and criminal facilitation and released on bail.
Cason and McClain were charged with robbery, kidnapping, and illegal use of a firearm. Steven and Harold were both charged with robbery.
