Crime & Safety
'One Of Most Horrific Scenes,' Murder-Suicide Kills 5: Police
A brother fatally shot three siblings and a niece, before killing himself on Sunday at his Syosset home, police announced on Monday.
MINEOLA, NY — A murder-suicide took five family members at a Syosset home on Sunday, Nassau police said.
"In 41 years, that was one of the most horrific scenes I’ve ever seen," Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said. "Walking into the back room, victims shot multiple times and the shooter was on the front lawn committed suicide."
A 59-year-old brother shot and killed his siblings and his niece before turning the rifle on himself, police said.
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Joseph DeLucia was identified as the shooter, police said a Monday news conference.
His 95-year-old mother had died only days earlier. The siblings were expected to meet on Sunday to discuss selling the house.
Find out what's happening in Syossetfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"He was living there his entire life; never lived on his own," Nassau Police's Homicide Squad Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick said. "So you could see the mindset where his world is now changing."
Fitzpatrick said DeLucia fired 13 shots and did not have a gun permit.
The victims range from a 69-year-old sister to a 30-year-old niece, police said.
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