33rd Year, Volume 34 • Issue 21
The People’s Newspaper - Covering All of Brookhaven
May 24, 2017
Man Sets Fire To Church Then Commits Suicide
Pictured: Randy Nathanson, Vice President of Rotary and Matthew Schneider, student of the month.
Rotary Club Students Of The Month For April/May
Matthew Schneider a student at William Floyd High School, was recently honored at a luncheon held by the Rotary Club of Shirley and the Mastics. Matthew, who is a senior, will be attending Brooklyn College in the Fall where he will be studying Early Childhood Education. He is an Eagle Scout, a trumpet player in the William Floyd Wind Ensemble, and a member of the William Floyd High School National Honor Society. Members of the Rotary were proud to honor Matthew, his family and teacher Bill Hennessey.
Photos by Steve Danielson
Pictured: Randy Nathanson, Vice President of Rotary with Devin Iorio, student of the month.
Devin Iorio, a senior in William Floyd High School was recently honored at a luncheon held by the Rotary Club of the Mastics and Shirley. He was chosen for his commitment to both academics and his extracurricular activities. While attending William Floyd High School, Devin played lacrosse all four years and throughout his high school career has been a member of both the mock trial team and the Youth and Government Program. Devin will be attending Trinity College, located in Hartford Connecticut in the Fall.
Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad and Arson Section detectives are investigating an incident during which a man set fire to a Center Moriches church, barricaded himself inside and committed suicide last Friday. A retired NYPD sergeant observed a man attempting to set a vehicle on fire in the parking lot of Saint John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, located at 25 Ocean Ave., and called 911 at approximately 1:30 p.m. Responding officers followed the man, John Beneventano, into the church and Benevento threw a gas can at officers and attempted to light them on fire. The officers retreated and were not injured. Beneventano then lit a match and started a fire inside the building. Officers retreated from the church and a perimeter was established outside. Emergency Service Section Officers and the Hostage Negotiation Team attempted to make contact. It was later determined that Beneventano, 42, of Shirley, committed suicide. It appears that no one
else was injured in the incident. “Once again our officers put their lives on the line to protect the residents of Suffolk County. I want to thank all the members of the Department who responded so effectively today,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Timothy D. Sini (shown above).