A tragic murder-suicide occurred in a Long Island, New York, home, leaving five people dead, including the gunman, identified as Joseph DeLucia Jr., a 59-year-old mechanic. DeLucia had legally purchased a shotgun and, according to police, was driven to commit the crime out of fear of being cut out of his family’s will. He believed he was going to be forced to move out of the home he had lived in his entire life. DeLucia’s mother had passed away just three days prior, and her children and niece had traveled to Long Island to sort out her will. The victims were preparing to meet with a realtor to discuss selling the mother’s home when DeLucia carried out the tragic act.
The victims of the murder-suicide, identified as JoAnne Kearns, Frank DeLucia, Tina Hammond, and her daughter Victoria Hammond, were all from out of state. When the victims arrived at the home to meet with the realtor, Joseph DeLucia Jr. stayed behind. Police stated that DeLucia was panicking, as he believed he was going to be displaced without a place to go. Authorities responded to reports of shots fired and found the four victims deceased inside the home, while DeLucia was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the front yard. Each of the victims had been shot multiple times by DeLucia, making it a horrific and tragic scene for law enforcement officials to respond to.
Nassau County police are urging residents to report any suspicious behavior by their neighbors, as DeLucia’s neighbors had previously reported that he told them not to bother calling the police if they heard gunshots. Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder emphasized the importance of community members sharing information and concerns with law enforcement to possibly prevent such tragic incidents. While DeLucia legally owned the shotgun used in the crime, authorities mentioned that it may have been illegal for him to possess the weapon if his troubling behavior had been reported earlier. The police had one prior visit to DeLucia’s home in 2022 for a welfare check, but no further action was taken at that time.
A local realtor, Mary Macaluso, was supposed to meet with the family members at the home to discuss selling the property after the death of the family matriarch. The relatives had asked for the meeting while they were in town from Florida for the funeral. The devastating incident has left the community in shock and mourning the loss of the five individuals who lost their lives in the murder-suicide. The tragic event has highlighted the importance of recognizing and reporting concerning behaviors to prevent such senseless violence from occurring in the future. Details of the investigation continue to unfold as authorities work to understand the motive and circumstances surrounding the deadly incident.
