Jonathan Shaver, 51, of Rocky Point, arrested in Shirley hit-and-run that killed man, injured brother

A Rocky Point man has been arrested as the alleged hit-and-run driver who struck two brothers — killing one — who were changing a flat tire Thursday evening on the side of a Shirley road, the Suffolk County Police Department said Saturday.

Jonathan Shaver, 51, was charged with leaving the scene of a crash, according to a department news release. Charging documents obtained by Newsday allege Shaver made "oral admissions" that he crashed and fled, telling police: "I hit a car I thought ... I was going to turn myself in."

Shaver also admitted, and was charged with, stealing about $768 worth of items from Walmart in 2025, according to the charging documents.

Shaver pleaded not guilty at arraignment Saturday in First District Court in Central Islip, according to online court records. Bail was set at $50,000 cash, $100,000 insured bond or $250,000 partially secured surety bond, records show.

Also Saturday, the department released the previously undisclosed names of the victims: 31-year-old Edgar Mejia, who was declared dead at the crash scene; and his brother, 29-year-old Omar Mejia, who was brought to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition early Saturday morning, police said. The brothers are from Mastic Beach. Neither Shaver nor Omar Mejia could be reached for comment on Saturday.

No lawyer was listed for Shaver in court records.

The crash happened Thursday around 6:45 p.m., just north of 1180 William Floyd Pkwy. The brothers were on the shoulder changing a flat tire when they were struck.

On Thursday night, the department wrote that detectives were trying to find a black Honda with front and passenger side damage, believed to be driven by the person who struck the men.

In an average year, over 500 people are killed nationwide and nearly 15,000 injured in crashes involving disabled vehicles, according to a 2021 study.