Man Kills Family Members Due to Paranoia That They Would Sell the Family Home After Mother’s Death

August 28, 2024 Gloria Shaw

A tragic incident unfolded in New York when a man, fearing the prospect of homelessness after his mother’s death, took the lives of four family members before turning the gun on himself.

59-year-old Joseph DeLucia Jr., had spent his entire life in the family home, which was set to be discussed with a real estate agent on the day of the tragedy.

The grim sequence of events began when DeLucia Jr. shot and killed his three siblings — 69-year-old Joanne Kearns, of Florida, 64-year-old Frank DeLucia, of North Carolina and 64-year-old Tina Hammond, of New York — along with his 30-year-old niece Victoria Hammond, also of New York.

After committing the murders, DeLucia Jr. called 911 to report gunfire before taking his own life with a shotgun, according to Nassau County Police Capt. Stephen Fitzpatrick, who addressed the media at a press conference.

When police arrived at the Wyoming Avenue residence in Syosset, Long Island, they found all five individuals dead, marking the conclusion of what would have otherwise been a routine family meeting about the future of the home.

The tragic backdrop to this incident was the recent passing of the family matriarch, 95-year-old Theresa DeLucia, who had died of natural causes just days earlier on August 19.

The family had gathered on Sunday to meet with a real estate agent to discuss the home where Theresa had lived with Joseph DeLucia Jr. Before the meeting could take place, DeLucia Jr., who had remained in another part of the house, armed himself with a 12-gauge shotgun and carried out the killings.

According to Capt. Fitzpatrick, DeLucia Jr. believed he was being excluded from his mother’s will and would soon be left without a place to live because his siblings were going to sell the family home. However, the heartbreaking reality was that DeLucia Jr. had been included in the will and would have been provided for.

The planned real estate meeting never took place, and instead, the day ended in an unspeakable tragedy. The real estate agent, who had been scheduled to visit the home, recalled, “The kids were all here for the funeral, and they asked me to come to look at the house.”

After firing 12 shots, hitting his victims multiple times, DeLucia Jr. reportedly went outside, shouting about the massacre, which prompted a neighbor to call 911. Shortly thereafter, he turned the gun on himself, shooting himself in the chest.

Authorities revealed that DeLucia Jr. had a history of medical issues, and the police had previously conducted a well-being check at the home.

The shotgun used in the killings was legally purchased, though DeLucia Jr. had exhibited odd behavior in the days leading up to the murders, even warning neighbors not to call the police if they heard gunshots.

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, reflecting on the devastating scene, emphasized the importance of community vigilance. “As a community, we hear things. We know things. We see things. And if we don’t say something, sometimes the outcomes are like we got yesterday,” Ryder said.