Tragic Murder-Suicide Shakes Syosset Community Amid Property Dispute

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
26/08/2024 18h49

In a devastating incident that has left the Syosset community in shock, a distraught adult son took the lives of four family members before tragically ending his own. The motive behind the heinous act appears to be related to the possible sale of his recently deceased mother's home. The incident unfolded in a quiet Long Island neighborhood, where Joseph DeLucia, Jr., overwhelmed by the fear of being cut out of the will and left homeless, resorted to an unimaginable act of violence.

The victims have been identified as Joann Kearns, 69, Frank DeLucia, 64, Tina Hammond, 64, and Victoria, 30, Tina's daughter. All were fatally shot in the rear den of the family home, with three of them being Joseph DeLucia Jr.'s own siblings and one his niece. Detectives have discovered that there were underlying mental health issues in Joseph's past, which may have contributed to his extreme reaction to the perceived threat of losing his place of residence.

According to Detective Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick of the Nassau County Police Department, Joseph Jr. believed he was being deprived of his rightful place in his late mother's will and, along with it, a place to call home. On that fateful day, Joseph Jr. armed himself with a loaded Mossberg shotgun and approached his family members in the rear area of the house. From the kitchen, he fired twelve shots, inflicting multiple fatal wounds upon all four victims.

Following the appalling act, Joseph DeLucia Jr. took the firearm and moved to the front lawn of the property, where he called out in distress. A concerned neighbor quickly contacted emergency services, reporting the shouting and the gruesome scene. It was during this time that Joseph Jr. turned the gun on himself, taking his own life with a self-inflicted shot to the chest.

Neighbors in the close-knit community had known the DeLucia family for decades and were familiar with the recent passing of the mother who owned the house. As the family was preparing to list the property, a dispute erupted, leading to this horrific chain of events. A real estate agent had arrived, ready to assist the family with the next steps, only to be met with the tragedy that unfolded inside the home.

One neighbor spoke of the son's deep attachment to the house, stating that losing it was simply too overwhelming for him to bear. Joseph Jr., who had spent his entire life in the home and worked as an auto mechanic, was described as a hoarder who invested heavily in his tools and auto-related equipment. At the age of 59, he found himself in a state of panic as his familiar world rapidly changed.

The Syosset community, deeply impacted by this brutal crime, has been grappling with the unsettling realization that warnings about the shooter's distress were circulating among residents. Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder expressed concern over these disturbing reports, urging community members to always report any signs of danger promptly.

As investigators delve into the details surrounding this tragedy, the authorities are left to grapple with one of the most horrific crime scenes they have ever encountered. The community of Syosset mourns the loss of innocent lives, their spirits dampened by the tragic outcome of a property dispute that spiraled into unimaginable violence.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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