Five people dead in apparent murder suicide by grieving son after mother's death
Five members of a family were found dead at a home in Long Island
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
A man who lost his 95-year-old mother a week ago allegedly carried out a five-person 'murder-suicide' in Long Island, New York.
The alleged shooter Joseph DeLucia Jr., 59, was left distraught over the passing of his mom, Theresa DeLucia, on August 19 and was facing the impending sale of the Syosset home where they both lived, the Nassau County Police Department said.
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Neighbors reported sounds of crying and screaming coming from the home before noon on Sunday (August 25).
That's when DeLucia Jr. allegedly went into the kitchen and opened fire on his two sisters, brother and niece - who were gathered at the property to meet with a realtor, police said.
They have been named as Joanne Kearns, 69, of Tampa, Florida, Frank DeLucia, 64, of Durham, North Carolina, Tina Hammond, 64, of East Patchogue and Victoria Hammond, 34, of East Patchogue.
After firing 12 shots, police said DeLucia Jr. took his own life.
Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick, a Nassau County Police Department detective, said: "The perception of Joseph Delucia was that he was being cut out of the will and was going to be displaced without a place to go.
"He did have past mental issues, psychological issues, that were reported to us, that we still have not confirmed."
He added: "He decided that day to get a loaded Mossberg shotgun, a 12-gauge, approach them in the rear area of the house and from the kitchen, fire 12 shots, striking all four of them multiple times."
"He then took the weapon, went out to the front lawn, was shouting indiscriminately about what happened,” Captain Fitzpatrick continued. “A neighbor heard him doing this, called 911, and that was our 911 caller. He then fired a self-inflicted shot to the chest and killed himself.”
Wendy Paisner, who lives across the street, told The New York Post that her Ring camera allegedly caught the audio of the shooter taking his own life.
“There were challenges. It’s really sad,” she said.
“But his mother passed away and I think that triggered him. You know, that they were selling the house.
“It’s real disturbing to hear. He was screaming, crying. The police have it.
"A wailing, screaming combination and then you hear the gun, then he’s wailing again, and that’s it."
Local Corey Margulefsky, 49, added: "It’s absolutely shocking. It’s shocking anywhere, but it doesn’t happen here that often, so we’re not really used to it."
Another neighbor said: "This is really heartbreaking. This is such a quiet little neighborhood, they used to call it a bedroom community. It’s shocking."
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
UNILAD has contacted the Nassau County Police Department for comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
Anish Vij