An 80-year-old veteran from South Farmingdale was killed Friday morning after a stolen vehicle plowed into his parked car outside an elementary school. Peter Morris, who had just finished speaking at a Veterans Day event at his granddaughter's school, was sitting in his vehicle when a speeding car—allegedly stolen and driven by an unlicensed man—crashed into him, resulting in his death.
According to News 12, authorities say the suspect, 24-year-old Randy Colon of Hicksville, stole a vehicle and was speeding through a school zone when he collided with Morris, pushing the older man's vehicle across a lawn and into another car with devastating force.
Veteran Killed Moments After Honoring His Country
Just before the crash, Morris had addressed a Veterans Day ceremony at Woodward Park Elementary, where his 9-year-old granddaughter is a student. He returned to his car after the event and was seated inside when Colon, driving erratically and unlawfully, struck him violently.
Prosecutors reported that the impact was so severe, Morris's vehicle was thrown onto the grass and into another parked vehicle. Witnesses—including an off-duty corrections officer—rushed to provide aid but were unable to save him. Colon fled the scene on foot, abandoning the wreckage and the man he had just killed. He was arrested nearby soon after, thanks to a quick police response and public assistance.
Prosecutors Aim to Hold Colon Accountable
During his arrest, Colon admitted to not having taken his prescribed mental health medication that day. This hasn’t stopped prosecutors from moving forward with serious charges, including manslaughter, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, and fleeing the scene of a deadly crash.
Colon’s reckless driving without a license, coupled with the theft of the vehicle, paints a disturbing picture of lawlessness that tragically intersected with the life of a man who had served his country with dignity. A judge arraigned Colon on Saturday, ordering that he be held without bail. It's a rare moment of judgment that matches the severity of the crime—something increasingly uncommon in today’s criminal justice system.
Family and Community Mourn the Loss
The Morris family attended the arraignment, visibly shaken and emotional. “They all miss his father and are heartbroken,” Morris’s son said, voicing the grief shared by a family now forever changed by one senseless act. Later that evening, friends and loved ones gathered at the crash site for a small vigil. Flowers, candles, and flags marked the place where a grandfather, storyteller, and patriot lost his life.
Morris’s daughter and grandson shared how they would remember him: with love and reverence—for his family, and for his ceaseless passion for storytelling. He wasn’t just a veteran with medals; he was a man who gave his best to his country and his kin.
Community Outrage and a Call for Reform
Residents expressed deep sorrow and outrage following the incident. “We’re a very close community here in Farmingdale, so everybody is very upset,” said Nicolette Morelli, reflecting the unity and shared pain of the neighborhood.
Morelli added, “And a veteran right before Veterans Day, can you imagine.” For many, the timing of the tragedy only highlights a nation losing not just its heroes, but its moral compass.
Colon’s documented mental health issues raise broader questions about accountability, public safety, and the consequences of ignoring warning signs—all areas where the current system seems to fall short.
Justice Demanded in Wake of Tragedy
This isn’t just a story of a crash—it’s an indictment of a system that allows unlicensed, unstable individuals with criminal intent to roam free and end lives. Peter Morris didn’t die in a war far from home; he died in a school zone, after honoring his country one last time.
The community, his family, and a nation that still values service are left to ask: where's the justice for the law-abiding, and when does the coddling of criminals finally end? Morris gave his life for something greater—only to have it taken by someone who disregarded every rule of that very society.
Honoring our veterans means more than ceremonies and speeches. It means standing up for the values they fought for—and guarding them from lawlessness, negligence, and indulgent leniency.
