LONG ISLAND (PIX11) — A deadly batch of fentanyl-laced crack cocaine has claimed the lives of three men and left a woman fighting for her life in Coram, prompting a major response from Suffolk County police.
Officers say the overdoses happened within hours of each other, Friday afternoon into the evening.
The first victim, a 39-year-old man, was found dead in a tent outside a home on Judith Drive around 2 p.m. Just after 7 p.m., police were called to nearby Fife Drive, where a 24-year-old man was also found dead, and a woman was discovered in critical condition. Minutes later, a 58-year-old man was found dead behind a business on Middle Country Road.
“It’s tragic,” said Keith Orchard, a local resident. “We need more education and enforcement. There’s work being done, but more funding is needed to fight this crisis.”
In response, police launched an aggressive investigation, deploying overdose detectives and canvassing the area for clues. Late Friday, an alert was issued warning residents about a “potentially deadly substance” in circulation. The department also activated its Medical Crisis Action Team, trained in rapid overdose intervention.
Two people have since been taken into custody, and police say search warrants turned up multiple cell phones, a firearm, and pounds of fentanyl.
“We wanted to get the message out to the community quickly—this batch was dangerous, and we had to stop the bleeding,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina.
Community members say the conversation around fentanyl needs to stay in the spotlight.
“You just have to keep talking about it,” said a resident named Sarah. “It’s everywhere and not going away.”
So far, police say no additional fatalities have been reported.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.
