A 25-year-old West Babylon man was indicted on murder and robbery charges after prosecutors said he attacked a 65-year-old Deer Park amputee in a parked vehicle. The victim was reportedly sitting in his car on Brook Avenue around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2024, when the defendant approached, forcibly pulled him out, and beat and kicked him. Prosecutors said the victim, who had one leg, could not defend himself. The defendant allegedly stole the victim’s vehicle and left him in the roadway without his phone. A good Samaritan later called 911. The victim died two days later from blunt force injuries. Police later found the stolen vehicle, and the defendant was arrested after a long-term investigation.
"According to prosecutors, Klune was sitting in his parked vehicle on Brook Avenue in Deer Park around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2024, when Butt-Champagne approached the car, forcibly pulled him out and beat and kicked him. Prosecutors said Klune, who had only one leg, was unable to physically defend himself during the attack. Tierney said Butt-Champagne stole Klune's vehicle and left him in the roadway without his phone."
"A good Samaritan later found Klune and called 911, prosecutors said. Klune was transported to South Shore University Hospital, where he died two days later from blunt force injuries, according to the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office. According to prosecutors, Suffolk County police officers canvassing the area on Dec. 12 located Klune's stolen vehicle in a commercial parking lot in Deer Park."
"While officers were securing the vehicle, Butt-Champagne was walking nearby when he was struck by a vehicle on Commack Road, prosecutors said. Officers responding to that scene found Klune's car keys near Butt-Champagne. Prosecutors said the keys were later confirmed to belong to the victim. After what prosecutors described as a long-term investigation, Butt-Champagne was arrested on May 11,2026."
"On Thursday, Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen Wilutis arraigned Butt-Champagne on the indictment charging him with: Second-degree murder, first-degree and second-degree robbery, second-degree assault and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. Butt-Champagne is represented by attorney Andrew Karpf, who declined to comment on the case pendin"
Read at Deer Park-North Babylon, NY Patch
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