What Happened
Steven Schwally, a Dix Hills man, is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in Suffolk County court after a jury convicted him of second-degree murder and additional charges stemming from a catastrophic crash that killed four people at a Deer Park nail salon two years ago. According to CBS New York, Schwally faces 27 years to life in prison — a sentence that follows his rejection of a plea deal that would have carried 22 years to life.
The crash itself occurred on June 28, 2024, when Schwally drove his vehicle at high speed into the Hawaii Nail Salon and Spa in Deer Park. Salon owner Jiancai Chen, employees Yan Xu and Meizi Zhang, and off-duty NYPD officer Emilia Rennhack were all killed in the collision. Nine other people were injured. As News 12 Long Island reported, the jury delivered its guilty verdict during a trial held in June 2026.
Prosecutors told the court that Schwally’s blood-alcohol level was measured at .17 at the time of the crash — more than twice New York’s legal limit of .08. According to CBS New York, shortly before the crash Schwally made a stop at a liquor store, where he purchased Long Island iced tea. Those facts formed the backbone of the prosecution’s case that the crash was the result of drunk driving, not an unavoidable accident.
Schwally’s defense pushed back on both key elements of the prosecution’s argument. His attorney argued that Schwally’s leg locked on the accelerator, causing the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably into the salon, and separately challenged the reliability of the blood-alcohol testing. The defense further characterized Schwally as a handicapped driver who made efforts to avoid the collision — a framing the jury ultimately rejected when it returned guilty verdicts on second-degree murder and related counts.
Schwally was not present in the courtroom when the jury announced its verdict. According to CBS New York, he had suffered a heart attack in the interim. Prosecutors nonetheless made clear he is required to appear in court Wednesday morning for his sentencing. Officials from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office are expected to speak publicly following the imposition of sentence.
Location & Road Context
The Hawaii Nail Salon and Spa, the scene of the 2024 crash, is located in Deer Park, a hamlet in Suffolk County. Deer Park sits in the Town of Babylon and is accessible via major corridors including the Long Island Expressway and the Southern State Parkway. Commercial strips in the area — typical of Suffolk County’s suburban layout — frequently feature storefronts with minimal separation from roadways, a factor that can amplify the consequences of any vehicle leaving the traveled way. For broader accident history in Suffolk County, see our coverage index.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted Schwally on charges of second-degree murder and additional counts. As News 12 Long Island reported, the jury’s guilty verdict came after a trial in June 2026 — roughly two years after the underlying crash. Prior to trial, Schwally had been offered a plea agreement with a sentencing range of 22 years to life, which he declined. With conviction on second-degree murder, he now faces the steeper exposure of 27 years to life. Suffolk County District Attorney officials are expected to address the media following Wednesday’s sentencing proceeding.
Broader Impact
Under New York law, a second-degree murder conviction in a DWI context — often referred to as a “depraved indifference” charge when applied to drunk driving — carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life, with prosecutors in this case seeking 27 years to life based on the four deaths, the degree of intoxication, and the circumstances of the crash. Schwally’s case has drawn attention across Long Island as an example of the maximum exposure drivers face when alcohol-impaired driving results in multiple fatalities. Drivers with prior knowledge of impairment who cause death can face the same murder statutes applied to intentional killings.