Coronavirus: Murder-Suicides Raise Domestic Violence Concerns

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Two recent murder-suicides have put a spotlight on domestic violence and gun concerns during the new coronavirus outbreak. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. said he and his office has been concerned about the possible increase in domestic violence as people are confined to their homes.

He said that the burden of that confinement was increased with financial downturn, business interruption and job losses.

"While we have not seen a higher number of domestic violence reports or arrests in Westchester County, we are heartbroken over five deaths in Westchester families in the last two weeks," Scarpino said.

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Both incidents have been characterized as murder-suicides, he said.

The first was on Easter Sunday, April 5, in Mount Vernon, where a man shot his wife and her daughter. He then turned the gun on himself.

Another murder-suicide was reported Thursday in North Salem, where, authorities said, a husband shot and killed his wife and then himself.

"Both incidents are still under investigation by police agencies," Scarpino said. "Two such incidents are two too many."

He said that, while no one knows what precipitated these deaths, "we urge everyone to be aware of friends and family members who may be under extreme stress at this time."

Scarpino suggests that people check in with others by phone or other online means.

If your calls go unanswered or their social media presence has changed, call 911, your local police or the county's Special Prosecutions Division at 914-995-3000, he said.

More information about support for domestic violence concerns during the coronavirus outbreak can be found on the district attorney's website.

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