Retired NYPD Detective Kills Teacher Wife in Murder-Suicide with Their 3 Children Home

10/17/2024 12:06 PM

Police say the retired detective shot and killed his wife before turning the gun on himself while the family's three children were home

A retired New York City Police detective shot and killed his wife after an early morning argument on Wednesday, Oct. 16, before turning the gun on himself, according to police.

The Yonkers Police Department said in a statement that retired NYPD detective Sean O'Neil, 54, shot himself in the head moments after shooting his wife Arlene O'Neil, 47, "several" times in her body while their three children were home.

The three O'Neil children were unharmed, according to police. "First responders attempted life-saving measures on [Arlene], who unfortunately succumbed to her wounds and was pronounced deceased on the scene," Yonkers police said.

"Investigators determined that a dispute took place, resulting in Sean O'Neill shooting Arlene O'Neill multiple times with a handgun before turning the weapon on himself," the police statement said.

A GoFundMe was launched to help support the O'Neils' three sons — a 15-year-old, a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old — and raised more than $50,000 in the first day.

On the family's GoFundMe page, Arlene is remembered as "a truly remarkable individual: a dedicated, hard working teacher for over 25 years in the Eastchester School District, a fearless mother, a thoughtful sister and a kind friend."

The page says that Arlene "spent countless hours shaping the minds of her students" and that her three boys "were her greatest pride and joy."

"Arlene exemplified strength, kindness, and resilience," the memorial reads. "She poured her heart into both her classroom and her home, always putting others before herself."

Police said the O'Neil children were taken in by family members Wednesday after the shooting. 

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The murder-suicide left the local community shaken.

The Eastchester Union Free School District, where Arlene worked, said in a statement that it was "shattered" by the news of her "tragic death."

"In this time of sorrow and loss, we encourage all members of the community to keep Arlene, her three sons, and the rest of her family and friends in their thoughts and prayers," the school district said in a statement, adding that a crisis team was dispatched to the school where Arlene taught in order to help students "process their grief during this tumultuous time." 

"Words just can't describe what happened," a neighbor Ed Pagano told CBS News. "It's just devastating for the kids, devastating for the family."

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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