Five Men Indicted in Armed Carjacking at Ronkonkoma Train Station, Suffolk DA Says

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. — Five men have been indicted in connection with an alleged armed carjacking that took place in the parking lot of the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road station in August, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced Thursday.

According to prosecutors, David Susalla, Sean Santaniello, Jahsiah Tricoche, Jayden DeJesus, and Daniel Montoya allegedly robbed a man and woman at gunpoint around 1:28 a.m. on August 17, 2025, before carjacking their white 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA sedan.

Tierney condemned the violence, calling it “unacceptable and intolerable in Suffolk County.”

“Violence such as this, where these defendants allegedly targeted two unsuspecting victims at a train station, has no place in society,” Tierney said. “Anyone who commits such violence in Suffolk can expect a full-scale investigation and to be brought to justice.”

Investigators said the five suspects traveled eastbound on the Long Island Rail Road from Brentwood to Ronkonkoma before approaching the victims’ parked car in the southwest corner of the lot. Two of the men allegedly brandished handguns, pointing one at the male victim’s forehead and threatening to kill him before forcing both victims out of the vehicle.

The suspects allegedly stole wallets containing cash and personal items before fleeing in the Mercedes, which was later found abandoned in Bay Shore nine days later.

Following an investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fifth Squad and the DA’s Gang Task Force, all five defendants were arrested on October 15.

Each was charged with:

  • Two counts of First-Degree Robbery (Class B violent felony)

  • One count of First-Degree Criminal Use of a Firearm (Class B violent felony)

  • Three counts of Second-Degree Robbery (Class C violent felonies)

  • One count of First-Degree Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle (Class D felony)

All five face up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge.

Susalla, 18, of Brentwood, was ordered held on $200,000 cash bail; Montoya, 17, of Bay Shore, and Tricoche, 18, of Brentwood, were each held on $250,000 cash bail; and DeJesus, 18, of Wyandanch, was held on $200,000 cash bail. Santaniello, 18, of Brentwood, is scheduled to be arraigned on November 10.

The carjacking case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kristen Yeamans of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau. Detectives Michael Richardsen and John McAleavey of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fifth Squad led the investigation with assistance from the DA’s Gang Task Force.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.