The drunk driver who allegedly killed four people, including an off-duty NYPD officer, after crashing into a nail salon while intoxicated, has reportedly shown little remorse for his actions.
In an interview with the New York Post, 64-year-old Steven Schwally had little to say about the four people he struck on June 28, other than, “I don’t like to think about it.”
Schwally described how he remembered first responders extracting him from the driver’s side window of his Chevrolet Traverse after he plowed into the Hawaii Nail & Spa in Deer Park. While he vividly recalled the wreckage of his car, he claimed to have no memory of the incident or anything else at the scene.
Schwally pleaded not guilty to all four counts of second-degree murder, among other charges. However, during the interview, he reportedly told the Post that he was “guilty.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Schwally is accused of killing NYPD Officer Emilia Rennhack and three other victims after drinking 18 beers before crashing into the Hawaii Nail & Spa on Long Island on a Friday night in June. The other victims were identified as Meizi Zhang, 50; Yan Xu, 41; and Jiancai Chen, 37.
Police reported that several others were injured in the crash, including a 12-year-old girl.
Security footage from the incident showed the defendant behind the wheel and driving in the opposite lane. He then “continued through the intersection” and “went airborne” into the salon.
Suffolk County prosecutor Alexander Bopp stated, “The defendant’s vehicle went through the intersection, went airborne, struck the curb in front of the Hawaii Nail & Spa, navigated through one empty parking spot, and slammed through the salon’s front window.”
When police detained Schwally, they observed his eyes were glassy and bloodshot, his speech was slurred, and he smelled strongly of alcohol.
During a court appearance on July 1, NYPD detective Carl Rennhack wept as Suffolk County prosecutors recounted how the suspected drunk driver killed the detective’s new wife and several others.
Chen lost his life, and his wife, Wen Jun, was hospitalized in critical condition. The couple had two children, ages 10 and 5.
Schwally spent a week in the hospital heavily medicated, which caused him to experience sleep issues.
Schwally is being held on a $1 million bail at Riverhead Correctional Facility.
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[Featured image: Emilia Rennhack /NYC PBA]
