In a tragic case of mistaken identity, two Sound Beach men have been indicted for the fatal shooting of Michael Hartmann, 49, at his Bohemia home. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the indictments on August 9, 2024, against Oliver Schor, 22, and Christopher Fernandez, 28, for their alleged roles in the murder.
According to the investigation, on November 2, 2022, Schor and Fernandez allegedly approached Hartmann’s home armed with rifles. The pair reportedly planned to enter the residence through the rear door when they encountered Hartmann. Schor allegedly opened fire, killing the unsuspecting victim before both men fled the scene in a car belonging to Schor’s mother. Investigators now believe that Hartmann was not the intended target, marking the case as a tragic instance of mistaken identity.
In a related incident, Fernandez allegedly robbed a gas station employee at an Exxon Mobil in Manorville shortly before the murder.
Schor has been indicted on multiple charges, including Murder in the First Degree, two counts of Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Burglary in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and Criminal Use of a Firearm in the Second Degree. If convicted on the top count, Schor faces life in prison.
Fernandez has been indicted on charges including Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Burglary in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Criminal Use of a Firearm in the Second Degree, and Robbery in the Third Degree. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count.
Both defendants were arraigned on August 9, 2024, before Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski, who ordered them remanded pending trial. Schor is due back in court on September 16, 2024, while Fernandez is scheduled to appear on September 11, 2024.
“This case involves the heartbreaking loss of Michael Hartmann, a husband, father and beloved family man, who was brutally killed at his own home,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “We are committed to seeking justice for him. Our condolences go out to the Hartmann family during this difficult time.”
