Staff, patients: Somber atmosphere blankets Westchester Medical Center after shooting

<p>Staff and patients say the atmosphere is somber, quiet and almost back to normal at Westchester Medical Center after a murder-suicide happened on Wednesday.</p>

News 12 Staff

Aug 9, 2018, 12:45 AM

Updated 2,255 days ago

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Staff and patients say the atmosphere is somber, quiet and almost back to normal at Westchester Medical Center after a murder-suicide happened on Wednesday.
Hospital officials have since stepped up security on the campus after the very chaotic and frightening day at the facility.
"It's sad," says lab technician Sara Kline. "It's heartbreaking, people go through a lot and it's probably hard to understand what people go through."
Police confirm that 71-year-old Richard DeLucia fatally shot his 70-year-old wife, Ann DeLucia, and then turned the gun on himself. The incident happened at approximately 9:39 a.m.
Ann DeLucia was a patient on the fourth floor at the medical center. Investigators say a licensed .38-caliber revolver was used and recovered in the hospital room. Both died of a single gunshot wound.
The couple lived at Jefferson Village, a senior living community in Yorktown. Police swarmed the complex and found a note inside the couple's home.
According to detectives, Richard DeLucia indicated in the note that he was distraught over his wife's failing health and wanted to end her suffering. Neighbor's say Ann DeLucia had suffered several strokes in the past year.
The two were reportedly married for close to 50 years and word is Richard DeLucia was a restaurateur, at one time owning The Westchester Manor in Hastings.
Neighbors say they were left reeling from the murder suicide.
"We're still all trying to process this I'm sick over this,” says Fred Holm, of Yorktown. “I don't know what to say, we're all in shock here, really sweet loving fun couple, but all that changed this year with health issues."
Other neighbors say Richard DeLucia was also suffering from health issues. They say that he would often take his wife for walks in her wheelchair, but blamed himself when she recently injured her head after she fell out of the chair.
Westchester Medical Center officials say they intend to re-examine their security measures.