Fifth Precinct police arrested 22-year-old Luciano Derenzo Tuesday afternoon, March 16, at 4:30 p.m for the beating of Dominick Palumbo, a SUNY Maritime student, that took place early Saturday morning in the parking lot of Land’s End in Sayville. He was charged with assault 2nd degree.
The arrest was made after the Suffolk County News went to press on Wednesday, March 17.
Derenzo was arraigned Wednesday at 1st District Court. His next appearance is set for March 22.
Fifth Precinct Commanding Officer Inspector William Silva who spoke to the Suffolk County News before the arrest took place said the incident occurred at approximately 1 a.m. March 13 at the 70 Browns River Road parking lot.
“We have a witnesses report,” he said. “The suspect left the scene and the victim was taken to Long Island Community Hospital, then he was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital. This was arranged on social media by groups of kids, it appears.”
Sayville Ferry president Ken Stein said the young man beaten, Dominick Palumbo, was a staffer. “I’m absolutely beside myself,” he said. “I’m devastated this happened to Dominick. He is a great, dependable staffer. He’s an excellent deckhand and a great kid. He’s always there and is very, very well liked by his peers and management. This is his third year with me. He’s attending SUNY Maritime at Fort Schuyler.”
In a Sayville Happenings & History Facebook post, Palumbo’s mother Susan Restituto Palumbo reached out to the community for help in obtaining videos of the attack. “Dominick was seriously beaten down at Lands End parking lot his 2 older brothers tried to help Dominick but the other guys held them back,” she wrote adding, this whole nightmare started over social media smack talk as my son told me, at the end of the beating my son was left unconscious with a fractured skull and a brain bleed.”
Restituto Palumbo added: “From what my sons have told me there was about 30 other kids down there that night watching this and probably taking video.”
She pleaded with parents to ask their kids if they saw anything on social media or any videos being passed around to give her the information to pass to Suffolk police.
Sources say that a mob of kids went up to Palumbo’s car, opened the back door, held back the brothers, dragged the young student out and beat him.
“The owner of Lands End (Gerard Scollen) has been great his cameras caught the whole thing but we’re looking for closer pictures,” Restituto Palumbo continued.
As for Dominick on Tuesday morning, “one of the brothers said the family said he’s improving,” said Stein. “We’re looking forward to welcoming him back at the ferry.”
This story was updated on Wednesday, March 17 at 6:50 p.m. to include the details of the arrest.
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