Steven Schwally, who is accused of killing four people in June when he crashed into a Long Island nail salon, could not take his foot off the gas due to a leg injury on his right side, according to his new lawyer.
Schwally is facing four counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of NYPD Officer Emilia Rennhack, 30; salon co-owner Jiancai ‘Kenny’ Chen, 37; salon employee Yan Xu, 41; and salon employee Meizi Zhang, 50. Schwally is accused of driving his SUV into Hawaii Nail & Spa in Deer Park while under the influence.
Attorney Christopher Cassar told the judge during a hearing on Wednesday that Schwally has “pins in that leg and ankle.” Cassar said the injury made 64-year-old Schwally unable to get his foot off the gas pedal in time.
“We’re reviewing all the evidence, all the medical records to see exactly what happened,” Cassar.
Defendant Steven Schwally appears for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip, N.Y., on Monday, July 1, 2024. Schwally’s lawyer claimed that a leg injury made him unable to take his foot off of the gas pedal.
James Carbone/Newsday via AP, Pool
A blood sample from Schwally found he had a blood alcohol content of 0.17%, which is over twice the legal limit.
Schwally, who was previously represented by the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County, appeared in the courtroom in a wheelchair.
Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Alexander Bopp told Suffolk Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro that they still have some discovery to turn over.
Prosecutors said 14 people were inside of the nail salon when Schwally allegedly crashed into it at 78 mph. They also accused Schwally of nearly hitting pedestrians with his car outside of the Kohl’s store across the street from the nail salon.
A date for the trial has not been set yet. Schwally is being held without bail at Suffolk County Jail.
Who are the Victims?
Rennhack was assigned to the 102nd Precinct in Queens, where her husband is a detective. The two got married in September of 2023 and she was getting her nails done at the salon for a friend’s wedding.
“Officer dedicated her life to serving and protecting our community with bravery, compassion, and unwavering commitment. Her sacrifice and dedication will never be forgotten,” the 102nd Precinct wrote on Facebook.
Emilia Rennhack, Yan Xu and Jiancai ‘Kenny’ Chen were three of the four victims killed in a Long Island nail salon when an SUV crashed into the building.
X and GoFundMe
Chen was a co-owner of the nail salon. His wife was also seriously injured in the crash.
“My uncle left behind two very young children, a 10-year-old and a 5-year-old,” Vincent Zheng wrote on a GoFundMe for the family. “With the shop completely destroyed and their mother suffering from critical back and hip injuries, the family has lost their only source of income.”
Xu worked at the salon to support her elderly father and 12-year-old son, who has polio.
Zhang was a nail technician at the salon. She lived in Flushing, Queens.
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