US man kills family and self over plan to sell mother’s home soon after her death

Joseph DeLucia Jr, 59, fatally shot three of his older siblings and a niece in crime known as family annihilation

A man distraught over his mother's recent death - as well as his family's plan to sell the home where he had spent his entire life - fatally shot three of his older siblings as well as a niece before killing himself Sunday on New York's Long Island, according to investigators.

The shocking violence attributed to 59-year-old Joseph DeLucia Jr seems to fit the definition of a type of crime known since the 1980s as family annihilations. The overwhelming majority of these cases involve a male killer armed with a gun who ultimately kills themself after murdering multiple close family members.

In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie.