Sean O’Neill, Arlene O’Neill Obituary, Death – A retired NYPD detective fatally shot his wife before taking his own life on Wednesday morning, according to Yonkers Police. Officers responded to a residence on Chittenden Avenue shortly after 7 a.m. after receiving a report of an unconscious individual. Upon their arrival, they discovered a woman with multiple gunshot wounds and a man who appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. First responders attempted life-saving measures on the woman, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The deceased have been identified as 54-year-old Sean O’Neill and 47-year-old Arlene O’Neill. At the time of the shooting, the couple’s three school-aged sons were in the home but were unharmed. They are now being cared for by relatives.
Approximately five hours after the incident and shortly after a priest arrived at the scene, the bodies were removed from the residence. Sources have informed CBS News New York that the couple’s marriage was experiencing significant stress, with reports of a heated argument on Tuesday night that carried into Wednesday.
Sean O’Neill retired from the NYPD in 2023 after serving on the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Arlene O’Neill was a fifth-grade teacher at Anne Hutchinson Elementary School in Eastchester. The school district expressed its shock and sadness at the tragic event and has announced plans to provide counseling services for both staff and students.
Neighbor Ed Pagano expressed his devastation over the incident, stating, “Words just can’t describe what happened. It’s just devastating for the kids, devastating for the family.” Friends and acquaintances of the couple described Arlene as a wonderful person and a devoted mother and educator, leaving many in disbelief at the events that transpired.
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