New York man kills four family members amid mental health crisis

Before allegedly using a pump-action shotgun to kill four family members, a New York auto mechanic exhibited clear signs of distress and made threats that were widely discussed in his neighbourhood, yet no one informed the police.

The tragic quadruple homicide in Syosset, Long Island, might have been prevented if someone had contacted authorities about the mental health issues of 59-year-old New York Man Joseph DeLucia Jr.

Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder highlighted the importance of community vigilance on Monday. He noted that if the police had been aware of DeLucia’s state, they could have acted under New York’s “red flag” laws to confiscate the Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun.

Initial investigations revealed community discussions about DeLucia’s distress following the natural death of his mother on 19 August. He lived with her at the family home on Wyoming Avenue.

Before he allegedly killed four members of his family with a shotgun, a New York auto mechanic displayed obvious signs of distress and issued threats — but police said no one told them. https://t.co/alHQNhrs2O

— ABC News (@ABC) August 28, 2024

The victims were identified as Joanne Kearns, 69, from Tampa, Florida; Frank DeLucia, 64, from Durham, North Carolina; Tina Hammond, 64, and Victoria Hammond, 30, both from Patchogue, New York.

The shootings occurred on Sunday while DeLucia’s relatives were at the family home, meeting a realtor to discuss selling the property against his wishes, according to police.

Officials said DeLucia became upset about being forced to leave the home he had lived in his entire life without another place to go, based on preliminary detective reports.

Ryder mentioned that homicide investigators are exploring unconfirmed reports of the New York man’s threats to neighbours about using a gun. Neighbours reported that DeLucia warned them days before the incident, saying, “If you hear gunshots, don’t bother calling 911. It’s going to be too late.”

Ryder urged the public to use available avenues for help, such as calling 911 or visiting local precincts. He emphasised that laws like the “red flag” laws exist to remove weapons from individuals facing mental health challenges or stress.

The shootings occurred just before noon on Sunday, marked by a neighbour’s 911 call reporting DeLucia’s self-inflicted gunshot on his front lawn, said Detective Capt. Stephen Fitzpatrick of the Nassau County Police Department’s homicide squad.

Officers found DeLucia on the lawn and discovered four bodies in a den at the back of the house. Fitzpatrick noted all victims had been shot multiple times, suggesting DeLucia reloaded the shotgun during the attack.

Fitzpatrick stated that DeLucia had past psychological issues, which are still being confirmed. He was reportedly panicked about being displaced from his lifelong home and falsely believed he was excluded from his mother’s will.

Joseph DeLucia, Jr. killed four family members and himself in an apparent murder-suicide in Syosset, New York. https://t.co/BE3pP6i9zU

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) August 27, 2024

According to Fitzpatrick, DeLucia fired 12 shots from a loaded Mossberg shotgun, hitting all four victims multiple times before shooting himself in the chest on the front lawn. A neighbour, who heard his shouts, called 911.

Police records showed a previous welfare check on DeLucia in 2022, but he exhibited no signs necessitating further action. He had a prior arrest for driving while impaired in 1983.

Detectives are investigating the shotgun’s origin and found it was a legal, unmodified weapon. There were no records of the New York man holding a handgun permit.

New York’s red flag laws, strengthened in 2023, allow authorities to confiscate weapons from individuals considered a risk. In 2023, New York State Police filed 1,385 Extreme Risk Orders of Protection to seize 2,549 guns.

Twenty other states have also enacted red flag laws in recent years. Commissioner Ryder stressed the importance of reporting concerning behaviour to prevent such tragedies.

“This is 2024. We will protect you, we will protect your identity,” Ryder said. “Tell us what you hear. Tell us what you see.”