Suffolk County prosecutors are intensifying their case against Steven Schwally, 64, seeking to solidify DNA evidence that allegedly proves he consumed two bottles of 42-proof liquor found in his SUV after he drove it through a Deer Park nail salon, resulting in four fatalities last June. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office has filed an affidavit requesting a cheek swab from Schwally. This swab would serve as a comparative analysis against a DNA profile obtained from his hospital blood test, which notably matched DNA swabs taken from two 375 mL Montebello Long Island Iced Tea Cocktail bottles recovered from his 2020 Chevrolet Traverse inside the Hawaii Nail & Spa. Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Alexander Bopp stated that the DNA evidence from the bottles matched Schwally’s blood profile, constituting probable cause for the crime and warranting the court to compel the cheek swab. Furthermore, investigators revealed that Schwally’s blood test, taken two hours post-crash, showed a blood alcohol content of .17%, more than twice the legal limit.

Court records detail Schwally's activities on the day of the June 28 crash. He allegedly departed his Commack Motor Inn room at 10:30 a.m., filled his SUV's gas tank, and purchased the two bottles of alcohol shortly after 11 a.m. from a liquor store adjacent to the nail salon. After driving around the Deer Park area for several hours, security cameras captured him at approximately 4:30 p.m. speeding through a busy shopping center, narrowly missing pedestrians, before crossing Grand Boulevard and crashing into the salon.

Defense attorney Christopher Cassar of Huntington stated that he is reviewing the buccal swab application and continuing to evaluate evidence in the case. Cassar also intends to provide prosecutors with medical evidence indicating that Schwally suffers from a leg injury, which he suggests may have contributed to the crash. Schwally, a former Dix Hills resident living alone in a Commack motel, appeared in court in a wheelchair and is reportedly remorseful for the incident, maintaining his spirits while in Suffolk County jail after pleading not guilty to the charges.

The tragic incident claimed the lives of salon co-owner Jian Chai Chen, employees Yu Xan (also known as Yan "Jenny" Xu) and Meizi Zhang, and off-duty NYPD officer Emilia Rennhack. Nine others sustained injuries, including salon co-owner Wenjun Cheng, Chen’s widow, and a 12-year-old girl. The community, still deeply affected a year later, remembers the horrific scene. Jennifer Nay, owner of a nearby pizzeria, described it as a “mini war zone,” recalling the screams, tears, and the sight of first responders attempting to resuscitate victims. The storefront of Hawaii Nail & Spa remains boarded up, adorned with handwritten messages of remembrance and grief for the victims, such as “Sleep In Peace Jenny & Ken” and “Thank You For Your Service Officer.”

The emotional toll on the community is significant, with many experiencing hypervigilance and fear of similar incidents. Michele Lucero, administrative director of behavioral health at Mount Sinai South Nassau, explained that anniversaries of such events can be “retraumatizing” and “open up an old wound,” particularly when senseless acts like drunken driving are involved. Nay and her customers have become more aware of the fragility of storefronts, with her mailman even parking his truck in front of her pizzeria as a barrier. While hypervigilance may fade for most over time, Lucero notes that the timeline varies individually.

Amidst the widespread grief, some community members express empathy for Schwally. Vickie DiBenedetto, 69, of Deer Park, acknowledged the victims’ suffering but also felt sympathy for Schwally, noting his service in the Marines and his alleged homelessness prior to the crash. Lucero echoed this, suggesting that a subset of people might connect to the idea that the tragedy also “ruins his life.”

Legally, Schwally pleaded not guilty on August 1 to four counts of second-degree murder, alongside other charges including first- and second-degree vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide, and driving while intoxicated. His defense attorney has filed motions to drop the murder charges and suppress evidence related to the smell of alcohol detected by first responders. Separately, multiple civil lawsuits have been filed by crash survivors, including Cheng and mother-daughter duo Ana and Carol Garcia, against Schwally, Stants Liquors (where the alcohol was allegedly purchased), and Yong Fang LLC (the strip mall owner). These civil cases are being consolidated into “one large lawsuit” to ensure judicial equity and streamline proceedings, although a trial remains years away. The prolonged legal process further delays justice, which is a difficult reality for families, survivors, and the community to grapple with. Schwally is scheduled to return before Suffolk Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro on February 13, with the defense having until January 24 to contest the buccal swab request.