Commissioner Gleason briefs reporters on
the apparent murder-suicide
VALHALLA – The man and woman who died in a murder-suicide at Westchester
Medical Center in Valhalla Wednesday morning were a husband and wife from
the Town of Yorktown.
They were identified by county police as Richard DeLucia, 71, and his
wife, Ann DeLucia, 70, who was a patient at the hospital.
Police said found a note at the DeLucia home in the afternoon in which
Mr. DeLucia indicated he was distraught over his wife’s medical
issues and wanted to end her suffering.
Westchester Police Commissioner Thomas Gleason said each victim died of
a single gunshot wound.
“It was a female, who had been a patient at the hospital, and the
male was a visitor. They were both in their 70s. At this time it appears
to be a murder-suicide situation,” he said.
A .38-caliber gun, licensed to DeLucia, was found in the room. Mrs. DeLucia
was found in a bed and her husband, who was a visitor, was on the floor.
Gleason and hospital Chief Administrative Officer Kara Bennorth stressed
there was no danger at any time to other patients, staff or visitors.
Within minutes of a nurse hearing the gunshots and notifying police, officers
and security were on the scene.
