Long Island, New York – In a tragic incident over the weekend, Tina Hammond, 64, and her daughter, Victoria Hammond, 30, were among four relatives killed in a murder-suicide in Long Island. The incident, which has shocked the local community, took place in the family home located in Syosset, New York.
The violence erupted after a family dispute over the sale of their deceased mother’s house. Joseph DeLucia Jr., 59, shot and killed his three siblings and his niece before turning the gun on himself. The victims were identified as Tina Hammond, Victoria Hammond, Joanne Kearns, 69, and Frank DeLucia, 71.
According to Nassau County Police Detective Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick, the altercation was triggered by a disagreement over the sale of the family home, which had been occupied by Joseph DeLucia Jr. since their mother’s recent death. Believing he was being excluded from the will and would be forced to move out, Joseph obtained a loaded 12-gauge Mossberg shotgun. He approached his family members in the house’s back area and fired 12 shots from the kitchen, hitting all four victims multiple times.
Detective Fitzpatrick stated, "The gunman believed he was being taken out of his will and that he would be uprooted with nowhere to go," explaining the motive behind the tragic event.
The other siblings lived in different states: Frank DeLucia in Durham, North Carolina; Joanne Kearns in Tampa, Florida; and Tina Hammond, along with her daughter Victoria, in East Patchogue, Long Island. The family had gathered in Syosset on Sunday to discuss the house sale, which led to the fatal confrontation.
Residents of the Syosset community were reportedly concerned about Joseph DeLucia Jr.’s mental health, but these concerns only came to light after the shooting.
This tragic event has left the community in mourning as they try to come to terms with the loss of four lives in such a violent and heartbreaking manner.