Two Shot Outside Republican Lee Zeldin's Home

New York congressman and Republican candidate for governor Lee Zeldin said two teenagers were shot outside his Long Island home on Sunday afternoon.

Zeldin, who is running against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in November's midterms, announced the shooting at a press conference, as well as releasing a statement thanking those who "reached out expressing concern."

The two victims, both aged 17, were walking along a street in Shirley, New York, with a third teenager when they were shot from a moving car at around 2:18 p.m. on Sunday, Suffolk County Police said.

Police said the victims, who have not been named, were taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The pair are from the nearby towns of Mastic and Mastic Beach.

"At this time investigators have no reason to believe there is any connection between the shooting and the residence," the Suffolk County Police Department said, according to the Associated Press.

In a statement, Zeldin said his two 16-year-old daughters were inside the home at the time of the shooting, but were not injured. One of the bullets landed just 30 feet away from his children, he added.

Zeldin said he and his wife Diana were not at home as they were returning from the Bronx Columbus Day Parade in Morris Park.

"After my daughters heard the gunshots and the screaming, they ran upstairs, locked themselves in the bathroom and immediately called 911. They acted very swiftly and smartly every step of the way and Diana and I are extremely proud of them," Zeldin said.

"The two individuals who were shot were laying down under my front porch and the bushes in front of our porch."

The Republican said police officers were at his home on Sunday evening to investigate the shooting and were looking over the home's security camera

Zeldin added that his daughters, who are identical twins, are "shaken, but OK" following the shooting.

The Republican has made tackling crime in New York a key part of his campaign for governor, and discussed the topic in an interview with Fox 5 New York on the Friday before the shooting outside his home.

"Like so many New Yorkers, crime has literally made its way to our front door," Zeldin said in his Sunday statement. "My family is grateful to all who have reached out and we will provide another update when we can."

This is the second incident of violence involving Zeldin in a matter of months. In July, the gubernatorial candidate was assaulted by a man who apparently tried to stab him during a campaign speech. Zeldin was not injured in the attack.

In a tweet, Hochul said she had been briefed on the shooting outside Zeldin's home.

"As we await more details, I'm relieved to hear the Zeldin family is safe and grateful for law enforcement's quick response," Hochul said.

The Suffolk County Police Department has been contacted for an update.