Long Island Murder-Suicide: Gunman Feared Omission from Will

Four victims and the gunman have been identified in a murder-suicide that occurred on Long Island, New York, on Sunday, with the gunman allegedly driven by the belief that he was being cut out of his family's will.

The Nassau County Police Department on Monday released the identities of the four victims and the gunman who died in the Long Island murder-suicide that has shocked the community.

The victims have been identified as:

Long Island Murder-Suicide: Gunman Feared Omission from Will

* JoAnne Kearns, 62, of Tampa, Florida

* Frank DeLucia, 67, of Durham, North Carolina

Long Island Murder-Suicide: Gunman Feared Omission from Will

* Tina Hammond, 55, of East Patchogue, New York

* Victoria Hammond, 26, of East Patchogue, New York

Long Island Murder-Suicide: Gunman Feared Omission from Will

The gunman has been identified as Joseph DeLucia Jr., 59, of Syosset, New York.

According to police, DeLucia purchased a shotgun legally and carried out the crime after learning that he would have to move out of the home he had lived in his entire life.

Long Island Murder-Suicide: Gunman Feared Omission from Will

"The perception of Joseph Jr. was that he was being cut out of the will and that he was going to be displaced without a place to go," said Det. Capt. Steve Fitzpatrick of the Nassau County Police Department.

DeLucia's mother had died three days before the incident, and his siblings and niece had traveled to Long Island to sort out her will. They were meeting with a realtor to discuss selling the home when the tragedy unfolded.

DeLucia is believed to have stayed behind during the meeting, fearing he would be forced to leave his home.

"He was panicking," said Fitzpatrick, noting that DeLucia was being taken care of but was expected to relocate.

Neighbors reported that DeLucia had previously stated, "If you hear gunshots, don't bother calling police," indicating a possible awareness of his intentions.

Police are urging residents to come forward if they notice anything suspicious about their neighbors, highlighting the importance of community involvement in preventing tragedies.

"As a community, we hear things. We know things. We see things. And if we don't say something, sometimes the outcomes are like [what] we got yesterday," said Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder.

He added that information about DeLucia's concerning behavior could have potentially alerted authorities and prevented the tragedy.

"We're not saying this incident could have been averted, but maybe it could have," said Fitzpatrick.

Police said they had one prior call to DeLucia's house in 2022, but his behavior at the time did not warrant further action.

The tragedy has left the community in mourning and underscored the importance of mental health awareness and support.