Police said a New Jersey family man shot his wife and son before shooting himself in a murder-suicide on Tuesday, March 7.
The Roxbury Police Department got a call at around 10 am on Tuesday requesting a welfare check on a family living in Succasunna. Responding officers found three dead people inside the home with apparent gunshot wounds.
Morris County prosecutor’s office released a statement saying that officers found the bodies of 57-year-old Peter Ventricelli, his wife, 58-year-old Kellie Ventricelli, and their teenage son, 15-year-old Anthony Ventricelli.
A family friend had called the police requesting a welfare check on the family after being unable to contact them.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said in the press release that the murder-suicide was brought about by domestic violence.
Attorney Carroll said the family’s deaths were a heartbreaking loss for everyone, including the rest of the family, the neighbors, the school, friends, and the entire community.
According to investigators, private contractor Peter Ventricelli fatally shot his wife and son before shooting himself. Police are yet to discuss the motive for the murder-suicide, and prosecutors said no police intervention was made to the couple’s home before the murders.
At a press conference, Attorney Carroll said both he and Morris County Sheriff James Gannon determined that the evidence at the scene indicated the incident was due to domestic violence. Gannon said, “This affects all of us. When we are talking about domestic violence, this is what this matter appears to be.”
A neighbor told reporters that the teenager was a very nice kid who was always helping others.
Family relatives created a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for funeral expenses. The page said that the death of the family also meant that the family business would collapse. It said part of the funds raised would be used to keep their grandparents in their home. The page has so far raised over $57,000.
Morris County is considered to be the second wealthiest county in New Jersey, according to SmartAsset, a financial technology company.
The case remains an active investigation.
