A New York man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after authorities say he drove drunk and crashed into a nail salon, killing four people inside, including an off-duty NYPD officer.
Background
Steven Schwally, 66, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison following his conviction for the June 28, 2024 crash that devastated the Hawaii Nail & Spa in Deer Park, New York. According to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, surveillance footage captured Schwally purchasing two bottles of Montebello Long Island Iced Tea Cocktail at a liquor store located in the same strip mall as the salon on the morning of the incident.
After buying the alcohol, Schwally drove his Chevrolet Traverse around the area for several hours. Additional surveillance cameras later recorded him driving recklessly before his SUV careened across the road at such high speed that it went airborne and crashed directly into the salon's storefront.
"He struck several people inside the salon and dragged the four victims before ultimately crashing into the rear wall of the store," Tierney wrote in a press release.
The Charges
The four people killed were 30-year-old Emilia Rennack, an off-duty NYPD officer who was a customer at the salon; 37-year-old Jian Chai Chen, the owner of Hawaii Nail & Spa; and two employees, 41-year-old Yan Xu and 50-year-old Meizi Zhang. Nine other individuals inside the salon sustained injuries, with some requiring surgery.
Police said Schwally displayed multiple signs of intoxication when extricated from his vehicle. Testing revealed he had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.17—more than twice the legal limit in New York. Investigators found two empty bottles and one full bottle of Montebello Long Island Iced Tea Cocktail inside his SUV, along with another empty bottle at the motel where Schwally lived.
A jury convicted Schwally in July on four counts of second-degree murder, three counts of first-degree assault, two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of vehicular assault, three counts of second-degree assault, four counts of second-degree vehicular homicide, and seven misdemeanors.
Key Takeaways
- Steven Schwally, 66, was sentenced to 25 years to life for the crash that killed four people at Hawaii Nail & Spa in Deer Park, New York
- The victims included off-duty NYPD officer Emilia Rennack, salon owner Jian Chai Chen, and employees Yan Xu and Meizi Zhang
- Schwally's BAC measured 0.17—more than twice the legal limit in New York
- Surveillance footage showed him buying Long Island iced tea at a liquor store before driving for hours and crashing into the salon
- Nine others were injured in the incident, with some requiring surgery
What's Next
Schwally has 30 days from his sentencing to file an appeal of his conviction. The Suffolk County District Attorney's office indicated that restitution discussions may be pursued as part of ongoing proceedings. Community members have organized memorial efforts honoring the four victims, including tributes to Officer Emilia Rennack and the three other individuals killed in the crash.