Police

Update: Riverhead man charged with murder for killing wife

Update (9:20 p.m.): A Riverhead man has been arrested for murdering his wife at their home following a nearly four-hour standoff with police Tuesday, according to Suffolk County police.

Sarah Brown, 71, was found dead from a gunshot wound at 20 Doris Ave. shortly after 2 p.m., police said. Her husband, Robert Brown, 65, allegedly shot her and will be charged with second-degree murder.

Riverhead police responded to the home at approximately 9:20 a.m. after receiving reports of a man carrying a handgun. The Suffolk police Hostage Negotiation Team and Emergency Service Section officers responded to the house where Mr. Brown had barricaded himself.

Police knocked down the door to end the standoff and Mr. Brown was taken into custody, police said.

Mr. Brown was taken to Suffolk County police headquarters in Yaphank where he was charged. He will be held overnight at Riverhead Town police headquarters and will be arraigned Wednesday at Riverhead Town Justice Court, police said.

Suffolk County police at the scene. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

Original Story: A Suffolk County police crime laboratory has arrived on scene at Doris Avenue in Riverhead following a multi-hour standoff Tuesday.

Police were seen escorting a man out of the home in handcuffs shortly after 2:30 p.m. The crime lab arrived on scene about two hours later, at which point officers began putting up crime tape.

Police have not released any information yet and Riverhead police have deferred to Suffolk, who are in charge. The department’s public information office has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Neighbors at the scene said they were evacuated around 10 a.m. by Riverhead police. They said they have since seen the homeowner, Robert Brown, outside the home, but have not seen his wife. One neighbor, who declined to provide her name, described Mr. Brown as a “pillar of the community.”

A Suffolk police Emergency Services vehicle pulled up the scene just before 4 p.m. followed by a large Suffolk County Fire Rescue van a few minutes later.

Two armored vehicles were parked in front of the home during the standoff.

Photo caption: Suffolk County Crime Lab at the scene. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

Officers began putting up crime tape around 4:30 p.m. (Credit: Tim Gannon)