In a tragic incident, a man from New York ended the lives of four family members before claiming his own amidst a severe emotional breakdown. The devastating event unfolded at the home of Joseph DeLucia, Jr., located in Syosset, a suburban locality approximately 15 miles away from New York City, where his family had assembled a few days following the burial of their mother.
Interestingly, the family’s rendezvous was not meant to mourn their deceased mother but to discuss the impending sale of her residence. This residence held special emotional value for DeLucia Jr., for it was not just his birthplace but also the home he had never moved out of till then. However, an unexpected twist of events transformed this gathering into a horrifying memory.
Feeling discontent with the probable disposition of his late mother’s home, DeLucia Jr., 59, shockingly used a shotgun to terminate the lives of three of the siblings he grew up with and a niece. Prosecuting his malicious intent, he unloaded twelve shots from this firearm to execute his tragic plan.
Following his gruesome act, DeLucia then stumbled onto the tranquil front yard of his residential cul-de-sac, loudly proclaiming the horrifying atrocity he had committed. The shock of his actions paved the way for deep remorse; this soul-crushing realization pushed him to turn the weapon towards himself, ending his life in another spray of gunfire.
The victims of this unimaginable outbreak included Joanne Kearns, aged 69, hailing from Tampa, Florida; Frank DeLucia, 64, a resident of Durham, North Carolina; Tina Hammond also 64 along with her daughter Victoria Hammond, 30, both from East Patchogue, situated on Long Island.
The deposition from surviving family members unveiled that DeLucia, Jr. was reassured by the family of his inclusion in the will and his financial security. The family only requested he move out of their mother’s home. This assurance, however, fell short of pacifying DeLucia, Jr.’s severe melancholy.
Ominously, the family was preparing to meet with a local real estate agent regarding the property sale when the violation took place. This meeting was mainly arranged to wrap up discussions about the property division.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder emphasized that the law enforcement became aware of the concerns about DeLucia post-event. The neighborhood was reportedly uneasy about the mental state of DeLucia who had been showing signs of emotional instability following the death of his mother and his discontent about forfeiting his lifelong home.
As per Commissioner Ryder, DeLucia could have possibly been prevented from securing the firearm if their team had been notified sooner about his deteriorating mental health. With earlier knowledge, law enforcement could have utilized ‘red flag’ laws designed exclusively for cases like this.
Investigating Officer Fitzpatrick suggested the law enforcement was still probing reports about delving into DeLucia, Jr.’s psychiatric background. In recent times, the police were contacted only for a welfare check at DeLucia’s residence, with no hints of him bearing a threat.
The law enforcement records reveal that the only encounter they had earlier with DeLucia, Jr. was for a charge of driving under the influence. This dated back to 1983, years away from the recent incident.
Notably, according to those in the know of DeLucia, Jr.’s life, he earned his living as a local auto repair mechanic. He seemed to have an affinity for hoarding, evident from the house stuffed with an array of tools and automobile repair equipment, a testament to his profession.
Reflecting on the incident, Fitzpatrick claimed they could not confirm if they could have averted the incident, but there might have been chances. Considering all the information they gathered in the aftermath of the incident, one can’t help but wonder if early intervention might have made a difference.