The harrowing final text messages of the Long Island woman killed by her brother in a horrific murder-suicide reveal she was celebrating her 64th birthday when she was shot to death.
Tina Hammond was visiting her late mother’s home on Sunday when she was shot by her brother Joe DeLucia, 59, along with her siblings Frank DeLucia, Joanna Kearns, 69, and Tina’s daughter Victoria, 30.
Killer DeLucia is said to be struggling with the death of his mother Theresa Martha De Lucia, 95, and fears losing the family home where he had lived all his life. His former colleagues described the auto technician – who was a collector – today as “gentle”, “respectful” and a “good employee”.
DailyMail.com has obtained shocking screenshots showing that Tina had responded to a text message from friend and neighbor Randi Marquis wishing her a happy birthday 15 minutes before her death.
Tina Hammond was celebrating her 64th birthday on Sunday when she was shot by her brother Joe De Lucia, 59, along with her brother Frank DeLucia, also 64, daughter Victoria, 30, and sister Joanna Kearns, 69.
Haunting screenshots show Hammond responding to a congratulatory message from girlfriend Randi Marquis just 15 minutes before she died
Randi texted Tina at 11:35 a.m. on Sunday to say, “Happy birthday! Make sure no one eats lunch.”
Tina responded at 11:38 with, “Thank you, I’ll be at mom’s in five minutes. Thanks so much Randy, lol. I’ll tell them.”
Text messages between Randi and DeLucia a week earlier show Randi trying to comfort the killer before the tragic incident.
After hearing about Theresa’s death, Randi told DeLucia, “I’m so sad to hear that Joe. I was actually thinking about you last night because I didn’t see your car and I thought you were going to do that with your mom and I was happy about that.
“I’m going to miss her terribly. She was a truly wonderful woman. God bless her and if you need anything let me know.”
Joe simply replied, “Thank you.”
Later, he promised Randi he would eat, adding, “I will. I need to take a nap. I haven’t slept in a while.”
DeLucia reportedly struggled with mental health issues and was born with the umbilical cord around his neck, depriving him of oxygen.
An exclusive image obtained by DailyMail.com shows DeLucia’s driver’s license portrait photo
Text messages between Randi and DeLucia a week earlier show Randi trying to comfort the killer before the tragic incident.
His mental state is said to have deteriorated sharply after the family matriarch, Theresa, died on August 19 and was buried on Friday.
Sources told DailyMail.com that DeLucia was $45,000 in debt and was struggling with the thought of his family home being sold.
According to police, psychiatric medications were found in the home during a search, along with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun that had been legally purchased by DeLucia.
According to Detective Stephen Fitzpatrick, neighbors claimed DeLucia told them, “If you hear gunshots, don’t call 911 because it will be too late.”
But today, DeLucia’s former colleagues at Advantage Hyundai in Hicksville — where he worked for eight years — expressed disbelief at the news.
Ring Camera footage from Randi’s home on August 20 shows Tina (right) with daughter Victoria nearby, the day after family matriarch Theresa died
Joseph Gentile, the dealership’s general counsel, told DailyMail.com: ‘He was a good employee.
“He came to work every day. He had no problems with his co-worker or his manager and no problems with his customers.”
“It’s incomprehensible. We know he loved his mother and he often talked about his mother to people. He had told people that his mother was sick, but this is just a shock.”
He added: “He was gentle, respectful and diligent in his work. It was just a complete tragedy.”