Family of four found dead in apparent murder-suicide

The four family members were found in their home in Rockland County around 12:20am (local time) while authorities responded to the address for a welfare check, according to the Clarkstown Police Department.

They were later identified as Watson Morgan, 49, his wife Ornela Morgan, 43, and their two sons, ages 10 and 12, the New York Post reported.

All four victims died from gunshot wounds, police said.

Watson Morgan, a sergeant with the Bronxville Police Department and former NYPD officer, is believed to have killed his wife and two children “prior to killing himself with a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” the department said.

A handgun was recovered at the scene.

Police advised that the shooting was an “isolated incident” and there is no threat to the public.

Authorities conducted a wellness check at the residence after Morgan, who was due to report to work at 11:30pm on Friday, never showed up, Clarksville Police Detective Norm Peters told The Post.

There is no history of domestic violence at the Morgans’ residence, he said.

The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, Peters added.

Bronxville Chief of Police Christopher Satriale said the departments’ “hearts go out to Sergeant Morgan’s extended family.”

“As we try to come to terms in a state of shock and sadness, we will continue to share with you what we can based on what the Clarkstown Police Department releases, as this is an ongoing investigation,” he told The Post in a statement.

Morgan joined the NYPD in 2000 and worked out of the Bronx in its Transit Bureau, sources said.

He joined the Bronxville force in 2007 and was assigned to the detective division in 2014 before being promoted to sergeant in 2016, Satriale said.

Ornela Morgan was an NYC Department of Education teacher at One World Middle School in the Bronx, sources told The Post.

“We mourn the senseless loss of @NYCSchools teacher, Ornela Morgan, and her family. Rest in power, sister!” Educators of NYC wrote on X.

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The 3,200-square-foot home where the deaths were discovered was last sold in November 2016 for $US846,910, according to Zillow.

This story originally appeared on the New York Post and reproduced with permission