Syosset murder-suicide gunman killed family over inheritance after mother's funeral, police say
SYOSSET, N.Y. -- Five people were shot and killed in Syosset in a gruesome murder-suicide brought on by an inheritance dispute, police on Long Island said.
Joseph Delucia Jr. killed his niece and three siblings at his home on Wyoming Court two days after his 95-year-old mother, who also lived there, was laid to rest, police said.
"In 41 years, that is probably one of the most horrific scenes I've ever seen, walking into that back room of that house where these four victims lie after being shot multiple times," Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said.
Police said Delucia Jr., 51, fired his pump-action shotgun 12 times and killed his sister, Joanne Kearns, 64, from Tampa, Florida; brother Frank Delucia, 69, from North Carolina; his other sister Tina Hammond, 64, and her daughter Victoria Hammond, 30, both of East Patchogue, New York.
Delucia Jr., a former EMT who became an auto mechanic, was found dead in a chair on the front lawn with a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest.
Gunman feared being cut out of mother's will, police say
After Theresa Martha Delucia's funeral at Calverton National Cemetery on Friday, the family planned to sell her house.
They were due to settle the will and meet with a realtor on the day of the murders, but Delucia Jr. did not want to move and became irate over his inheritance, police said.
"The perception of Joseph Jr. 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. Because of that perception, he decided that day to get a loaded Mossberg shotgun, 12 gauge, approach them in the rear area of the house, and from the kitchen fired 12 shots striking all four of them," Nassau County Police Capt. Stephen Fitzpatrick said.
"His mom died. The real reason why this all happened was because he felt he was going to be homeless. That's it," said neighbor Randi Marquis. "He knew the realtor was coming."
Police said the siblings would've shared proceeds after the sale of the house.
Gunman's mental health in question
Neighbors knew Delucia Jr. as someone who became volatile, but said they never thought he would murder his family.
"There was talk in the community in the past that if you hear shots fired, don't call the police, it'll be too late," Ryder said.
The shotgun he used to murder his four family members was registered, according to police.
"But if he was reported to be mentally unstable, this may be illegal for him to possess," Fitzpatrick said.
"I totally agree with the commissioner, the police and everything, but I had no idea that this was coming," Marquis said. "And not only that, the sister told me, 'Oh, he's talking nonsense again.'"
Neighbors said Delucia Jr. lived with his mother his entire life and had occasional public outbursts.