Long Island Man Kills 4 of His Family Members Over Sale of Late Mother’s Home – Joseph DeLucia, Jr.

Joseph DeLucia, Jr. | Facebook

On August 25, 2025 Joseph DeLucia, Jr., 59, fatally shot four family members before taking his own life in what authorities described as a murder-suicide fueled by despair over the sale of his late mother’s home. The incident unfolded in Syosset, New York, just three days after the family buried their mother, 95-year-old Theresa DeLucia.

The family had gathered at the Wyoming Court home to discuss the sale of the house, which had been Joseph’s home for his entire life. According to Nassau County Police Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick, Joseph’s emotional distress over the looming sale escalated to a horrific act of violence on that Sunday afternoon. Equipped with a pump-action Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, Joseph shot and killed his three siblings—Joanne Kearns, 69, Frank DeLucia, 64, and Tina Hammond, 64—along with his 30-year-old niece, Victoria Hammond.

The massacre took place inside the family’s home where they had gathered not only to discuss the sale but to celebrate Tina’s birthday. After firing a total of 12 rounds, DeLucia went to the front yard, screamed about what he’d done, and then turned the gun on himself, according to police.

“Officers found him with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest. He was pronounced at the scene,” Fitzpatrick stated.

A Family in Mourning

The DeLucia family had only buried their mother, Theresa. Known in the community as “Terry,” she had been a beloved nurse who volunteered at local shelters and food banks. An online obituary described her as “a beacon of light” in the Syosset community, well-regarded for her compassionate nature and dedication to helping others. Theresa’s death seemed to be the breaking point for Joseph, who had been struggling emotionally since her death.

Neighbors expressed their shock at the events that transpired. Randy Marquis, a neighbor who had lived across the street for over a decade, said Joseph had appeared “sad and confused” in the days following his mother’s death, but noted there were no obvious signs that he would turn violent. Marquis had frequently checked in on the family, even visiting Theresa in the hospital before her death.

“We had no idea this was coming. If we knew he was going to do this, we would have said something.”

A Troubled Mind

Joseph’s emotional instability appeared to have been known to a few in the community. Another neighbor, Sandy Landsman, who lived nearby, rememberd hearing a scream from Joseph moments before he took his own life.

“We heard a high-pitched scream, it was Joe screaming, then one shot.”

She added that Joseph was known for his emotional outbursts, including what she described as “blood-curdling screams” whenever he became frustrated while working on cars.

Police are still investigating reports that he may have struggled with mental health issues, though his history with law enforcement was minimal. A single wellness check at the home in 2022 did not result in any intervention, and his only arrest had been for a DUI in 1983.

Fitzpatrick confirmed that Joseph had spent his entire life living in the family’s home and worked as a local auto mechanic. His hoarding tendencies had filled the house with car tools and other items, signaling what police described as an increasingly isolated and troubled existence.

“He was living there his entire life, never lived on his own. So you could see his mindset, where his world was now changing and he was in a panic.”

Red Flag Laws and Missed Opportunities

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder noted that Joseph’s acquisition of the firearm could have been prevented under New York’s red flag laws if authorities had been aware of his mental state. These laws are designed to temporarily prevent individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others from obtaining firearms. However, neighbors and family members did not notify police of Joseph’s emotional distress, and his mental health concerns only came to light after the tragic event.

“These are things that are disturbing to us as law enforcement as we open so many avenues to ask us for help,” Ryder said. “We are asking our communities to not sit back. Be our eyes, be our ears and let us know what is happening.”

Ryder’s plea highlights a painful aspect of this tragedy: despite concerns from some in the neighborhood, no one had reported Joseph’s behavior to the authorities.

“He didn’t know where to go,” Landsman explained. “He had lived there his whole life. One of the siblings said she would take care of him, that she would let him come and live with her. Apparently, that didn’t sound too good to him.”

In a reflection of Joseph’s mental state, his Facebook page featured posts hinting at frustration, and his cover photo had been updated to a New York license plate that read “Deprssed.” 

For the DeLucia family, what should have been a time of mourning for their mother became a nightmare. As police continue to investigate the details, neighbors, friends, and law enforcement are left questioning what more could have been done to prevent such a tragedy.

In Fitzpatrick’s words, “We’re not saying this incident could have been averted. But maybe it could have.”

Want more true crime cases? Listen to this one next!

And remember, sharing the post with a friend is a free and easy way to support the show. 

Question: Is there a case you want me to talk about?

🔗 Get involved in the conversation: WhatsApp