Slain Teen's Prom Date, Friends Gather at Pharmacy Murder Scene

Vinny D’Amadeo was going to take Jennifer Mejia to Bellport High School’s senior prom Wednesday night.

Instead, D’Amadeo and his friends, on their way to prom, left Mejia’s corsage and a candle in her memory at the Haven Drugs store where she was along with three others Sunday morning.

the Medford store Wednesday, where the four were gunned down by a suspected shooter who took painkillers from the drug store.

Police have that 33-year-old David Laffer and his wife, Melinda Brady, 29, were arrested Wednesday morning at their Medford home on Pitchpine Place in connection with the killings. 

Mourners gathered at the memorial set up outside Haven Drugs after finding out about the arrests. 

Lillian Emrick, of Medford, heard the news while seeing a movie at the Island 16 theatre in Holtsville.

“People were clapping during the movie,” Emrick said, adding that moviegoers were checking their cellphones for the news during the film. 

Another Medford woman said she felt happiness and relief with the news of the arrests.

Denise Chiuchiolo, of Patchogue, said that before the arrests were made, she was more concerned about her mother, who lives three blocks away from the store.

“You never feel safe when things like this happen,” Chiuchiolo said.

Eno Baldev, also of Medford, has been going to the Haven Drugs pharmacy for more than 20 years.

“This whole corner has been changed forever,” Baldev said.