Authorities: Bronxville police sergeant believed to have killed wife, 2 children in New City murder-suicide
According to their initial report, officers arrived at 12:20 a.m. for a welfare check at 10 Clydesdale Court and found an adult male, adult female and two juvenile males deceased inside.
A Bronxville police sergeant is believed to have killed his wife and two children before fatally shooting himself inside their New City home, Clarkstown police said on Saturday.
According to their initial report, officers arrived at 12:20 a.m. for a welfare check at 10 Clydesdale Court and found an adult male, adult female and two juvenile males deceased inside.
“The adult female and two juvenile males were shot, while the adult male appears to have a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” according to Clarkstown police.
News 12's Jade Nash initial coverage of the apparent New City murder-suicide.
The man found with the self-inflicted gunshot wound was identified by the Clarkstown Police Department as Watson Morgan, a sergeant with the Bronxville Police Department. According to his biography on the department website, Morgan, 49, started his career with the NYPD in 2001 and retired in 2007. He joined the Bronxville force that same year. It says he was promoted to detective in 2014 and to sergeant in 2016.
Morgan was a youth officer and was expected to retire this March.
Bronxville police say that Morgan did not show up for his Friday night shift, which led Clarkstown police officers to conduct the welfare check.
The female victim was identified as 43-year-old Ornela Morgan. Their two sons were ages 10 and 12. A handgun was recovered at the scene.
Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann told News 12’s Jade Nash that grief counselors will be at schools on Tuesday when they reopen from the holiday break.
The house, which was still decorated for Christmas as of Saturday night, was roped off as detectives investigated the scene.
The Clarkstown Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding the shooting to call them at 845-639-5840.
Local leaders also reacted to the news of this apparent murder-suicide. Rockland County Executive Ed Day issued a statement which says, "I send my prayers and deepest condolences to family, friends, and fellow officers of the victims, along with the entire Town of Clarkstown."
Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin and the Bronxville Police Department released a joint statement which says, "Our hearts go out to Sergeant Morgan's extended family. Our thoughts and prayers are also with his Bronxville Police Department family."
'A TRAGIC LOSS'
Clarkstown Central School District called the incident a "tragic loss" in a letter sent to parents.
The youngest boy went to Laurel Plains Elementary School and the other went to Felix Festa Middle School – both in the Clarkstown Central School District.
Laurel Plains and Felix Festa will be open on New Year's Eve from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. for "students, families and staff seeking emotional support," according to a letter from Superintendent Marc Baiocco.
A separate letter listed resources for parents:
Call or text 988 for 24/7, confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress
Contact the Rockland County Behavioral Health Response Team for mobile behavioral health services, 24/7
For a true emergency, dial 911 or contact Clarkstown Police at (845) 639-5800
News 12's Diane Caruso was outside the district offices.
