Joseph DeLucia Jr: New York man shoots family – then himself – over fears of being cut out of mother’s will
A man who believed he was being cut out of his mother’s will and did not want to move out of her home, has shot dead four members of his own family before taking his own life, police in the US have said.
Joseph DeLucia Jr killed his three siblings, Joanne Kearns, Frank DeLucia and Tina Hammond as well as Ms Hammond’s daughter, Victoria Hammond, at a family meeting at his mother’s home in Long Island on Sunday.
DeLucia Jr, 59, met the others at the property in Syosset, about 15 miles (24km) east of New York City, Nassau County Police Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick said on Monday.
Neighbour Randy Marquis said DeLucia Jr had seemed ‘sad’ recently. Pic: AP
It was just three days after Theresa DeLucia, who died last week at age 95, had been buried, he said.
But instead of discussing the planned sale of the home, where DeLucia Jr had lived his whole life, the car mechanic fired 12 rounds from a shotgun, killing the others.
He then walked out to the front garden “shouting indiscriminately” about what he had just done before turning the gun on himself, Captain Fitzpatrick said, adding that DeLucia thought “he was being cut out of the will and that he would be displaced with nowhere to go.
“Because of that perception, he decided that day to get a loaded Mossberg shotgun, 12 gauge, approach them in the rear area of the house and from the kitchen, fired 12 shots, striking all four of them multiple times. The entire family is now gone.”
His two sisters and brother were all in their 60s, while his niece was 30, police said. All four were found in the house, while DeLucia Jr was found outside, News12 said. All five were pronounced dead at the scene.
The family members had tried to convince DeLucia Jr that he would be provided for following his mother’s death, but that he would have to move out of her home.
Neighbour Randy Marquis said while DeLucia Jr appeared “sad and confused” in recent days, there were no obvious warning signs he would turn violent and said she was not aware he owned a gun.
She said: “We had no idea this was coming. If we knew he was going to do this, we would have said something, of course we would.”
The family had gathered at the house ahead of a meeting with a local real estate agent and were also celebrating Tina Hammond’s birthday, she said.
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Police said they could have used so-called “red flag” laws to stop DeLucia Jr from getting hold of a firearm if they had known he was dealing with mental health issues.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder speaking on Monday. Pic: AP
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said officers only learned after the shooting that neighbours were concerned he might harm himself or others as he had been emotional and distraught following his mother’s death.
Captain Fitzpatrick said: “We’re not saying this incident could’ve been averted, but maybe it could’ve.”
Detectives were still looking into reports DeLucia Jr dealt with mental health issues, adding that he was a hoarder and the house was packed with tools and other car repair items, he said.
The only time police had been called to the residence in recent years was for a wellness check, and his only arrest was for driving under the influence back in 1983, he said.
World
European leaders to meet in Ukraine for ‘coalition of the willing’ talks – and issue call to Russia
Sir Keir Starmer will join other European leaders in Kyiv on Saturday for talks on the “coalition of the willing”.
The prime minister is attending the event alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, recently-elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
It will be the first time the leaders of the four countries will travel to Ukraine at the same time – on board a train to Kyiv – with their meeting hosted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Follow latest updates on the Ukraine war
Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz travelling in the saloon car of a special train to Kiev. Pic: Reuters
Military officers from around 30 countries have been involved in drawing up plans for the coalition, which would provide a peacekeeping force in the event of a ceasefire being agreed between Russia and Ukraine.
Ahead of the meeting on Saturday, Sir Keir, Mr Macron, Mr Tusk and Mr Merz released a joint statement voicing support for Ukraine and calling on Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire.
Sir Keir and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in March. Pic: AP
“We reiterate our backing for President Trump’s calls for a peace deal and call on Russia to stop obstructing efforts to secure an enduring peace,” they said.
“Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.”
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The leaders said they were “ready to support peace talks as soon as possible”.
But they warned that they would continue to “ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine” until Moscow agrees to a lasting ceasefire.
“We are clear the bloodshed must end, Russia must stop its illegal invasion, and Ukraine must be able to prosper as a safe, secure and sovereign nation within its internationally recognised borders for generations to come,” their statement added.
“We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine.”
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The European leaders are set to visit the Maidan, a central square in Ukraine’s capital where flags represent those who died in the war.
They are also expected to host a virtual meeting for other leaders in the “coalition of the willing” to update them on progress towards a peacekeeping force.
This force “would help regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces after any peace deal and strengthen confidence in any future peace”, according to Number 10.
World
Ten explosions near international airport in India-administered part of Kashmir, officials say
Ten explosions have been heard near Srinagar International Airport in India-administered parts of Kashmir, officials have told Reuters news agency.
The blasts followed blackouts caused by multiple projectiles, which were seen in the sky above the city of Jammu earlier on Friday.
Explosions were also heard in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, in the neighbouring Punjab state, according to Reuters.
An Indian military official told the agency that “drones have been sighted” and “they are being engaged”.
It comes as tensions between India and Pakistan across the line of control around the region of Kashmir have boiled over this week, leading to fears of a wider conflict.
On Wednesday morning, India carried out missile strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered parts of the disputed region.
The retaliation came weeks after 26 people, mainly Indian tourists, were shot dead by gunmen in an India-administered part of Kashmir last month.
The government in India said it hit nine “terrorist infrastructure” sites, while Pakistan said it was not involved in the April attack and the sites were not militant bases.
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Around 48 people have been killed since Wednesday, according to casualty estimates on both sides – which have not been independently verified.
India also suspended its top cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League, as a result of rising tensions, while the Pakistan Super League moved the remainder of its season to the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a conference on Friday that the US is in constant contact with both India and Pakistan.
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Conclaves are famously unpredictable affairs – and once again the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new pope caught many by surprise.
The newly elected Pope Leo XIV won the consensus of the 133 cardinal electors after only four ballots – a fast process for a diverse college of cardinals.
Though his name had circulated among some Vatican watchers, other cardinals had emerged as clear front-runners, including Pietro Parolin – the Vatican’s number two who would have been the first Italian in almost 50 years to become pontiff – or Luis Tagle, a Filipino cardinal looking to become the first Asian pope.
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Instead, it was the first North American to win the highly secretive process.
So, what went on behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel?
Until Thursday lunchtime, Cardinal Parolin was ahead, gathering between 45 and 55 votes, sources say.
A substantial number, but well short of the 89 votes he needed for a two-thirds majority.
At this point, Cardinal Prevost had between 34 and 44 votes.
But as the Italian struggled to grow his support during the first three rounds of voting, he stepped down from the race, endorsing Prevost instead, Sky News understands.
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An internal battle between Luis Tagle and Pablo Virgilio David – both cardinals hailing from Asia – cancelled out both of their chances.
And a contender from Africa – the most conservative sector of the church – was never likely for a conclave where the overwhelming majority of cardinals had been appointed by Francis, a progressive pontiff, sources say.
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An American pope has long been seen as highly improbable, given the geopolitical power of the US.
But Cardinal Prevost was able to draw from across the groups making up the electors: moderate US cardinals, South American cardinals and many European cardinals all coalesced around him.
Italian newspaper La Repubblica said Prevost “certainly attracted cross-party preferences, both ideologically and geographically”.
“In the conclave he was the least American of Americans: Born in Chicago, he lived 20 years in Peru,” the newspaper said.
It added: “As a man used to teamwork, Prevost appeared to many as the right man to make the papacy evolve into a more collegial form.”
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