Newly released photos reveal the horrific scene inside a Long Island home where a murder-suicide claimed the lives of five family members. Captured Tuesday morning, the images show the aftermath of the tragic event, including bloodstained sheets and a living room frozen in time.
The photos depict the back den of the Wyoming Court house in Syosset, where Joseph DeLucia, 59, allegedly used a shotgun to kill his three siblings and his niece. The room, filled with old-fashioned furnishings like wooden captain’s chairs, piles of newspapers, and a well-worn couch, contrasts starkly with the violence that took place. An iced coffee still rests on an end table, a somber reminder of the family’s last moments before they met with a realtor to discuss selling the home of their recently deceased mother, Theresa DeLucia.
The only signs of the crime within the home are the bloodstained sheets crumpled on the floor beneath a table. It remains unclear whether these sheets were used to clean up the blood before DeLucia turned the shotgun on himself outside, where he was found dead on the lawn.
A balloon floating in the corner of the room reflects the family’s plans to celebrate Tina Hammond’s birthday that day. Neighbor Randi, who was close friends with Tina, recounted her decision to pick up party food instead of going directly to the house, which possibly saved her life.
The tragic events unfolded around noon on Sunday when DeLucia, a former EMT with a history of mental illness, fatally shot his niece Victoria Hammond, her mother Tina Hammond, and two other siblings—Joanne Kearns, 69, and Frank DeLucia, 63.
Tina Hammond’s boss described her as an exceptional person with a warm personality, deeply respected by her coworkers. He recalled her dedication and the close bond she shared with her daughter Victoria.
The incident has left the community in shock, struggling to come to terms with the devastating loss and the surreal nature of the crime.
DeLucia Jr. was deeply distressed by the death of his 95-year-old mother, Theresa DeLucia, and the upcoming sale of their Syosset home. According to police and neighbors, he opened fire inside their Wyoming Court residence, killing four people before taking his own life outside.
“The mother had just passed away, and they were in the process of selling the house,” said Mary Macaluso, a local real estate agent. She explained that she was scheduled to meet the family at the house around noon, but by the time she arrived, authorities had already closed off the street.
Macaluso added, “The kids were in town for the funeral, and they had asked me to come and assess the house.” She was told the family wanted to proceed quickly with the sale, as two of the relatives had traveled from Florida for the funeral and were planning to return soon.
The former owner of the home, Theresa Martha DeLucia, passed away last week at the age of 95, according to public records and her obituary.
“It appears to be a murder-suicide,” Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder told Newsday at the scene. “We do know that the individual on the front lawn shot and killed himself.”
Later, Ryder informed News12 that investigators believe DeLucia’s adult son, who had been living in the house, was distressed over the impending sale of the property. This led him to fatally shoot four people inside the home before taking his own life.
A neighbor, who lives across the street, told The Post that the man had struggled with mental health issues and was deeply affected by his mother’s death and the prospect of losing the house he had lived in his entire life.
