By Mackenzie Tatananni For Dailymail.Com
04:22 01 Jan 2024, updated 04:22 01 Jan 2024
- Watson Morgan, 49, is suspected to have fatally shot wife Ornela, 43, and their two sons aged 10 and 12, before turning the gun on himself
- Their bodies were discovered Saturday after police conducted a wellness check when Morgan failed to appear for work
- Shocked neighbors in New City have described them as a ‘perfect’ family
Neighbors of the New York police officer accused of shooting his wife and kids before turning the gun on himself described them as the ‘perfect American family.’
Bronxville Police Department Sergeant Watson Morgan, 49, was found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds alongside his wife Ornela Morgan, 43, and their two young sons on Saturday.
Speaking to the New York Post, a neighbor described them as the ‘textbook, perfect American family.’
‘We’re in shock. Everyone in this community is shocked,’ the neighbor added.
Officers conducted a welfare check at the family’s home in New City, an affluent hamlet within the town of Bronxville, when Morgan failed to turn up for work.
A handgun was recovered and all four were pronounced dead at the scene.
‘Sergeant Morgan failed to appear for the evening shift last night and our Police Department contacted the Clarkstown Police Department in his hometown who made the discovery,’ Bronxville Police said in a statement.
‘Our hearts go out to Sergeant Morgan’s extended family. Our thoughts and prayers are also with his Bronxville Police Department family.’
The sudden tragedy left neighbors in the quiet cul-de-sac reeling.
A woman who declined to be named said: ‘The kids were always out here playing outside, and their mom was just the sweetest person you ever met.’
Ornela Morgan was a teacher within the New York City public education system.
The couple’s sons, aged 10 and 12, attended school in the Clarkstown Central School District.
The 10-year-old was a student at Laurel Plains Elementary School, while the 12-year-old went to Felix Festa Middle School.
The town of Clarkstown announced that grief counselors would be made available for students within the district.
Morgan began his career with the New York Police Department in 2000 before joining the force in Bronxville seven years later.
He was promoted to sergeant in 2016 and was expected to retire from the police department in March.
The 49-year-old’s social media profiles are full of photos of the family grinning while on vacation and watching baseball games.
The latest post on Watson’s Facebook, from 2022, shows him and his eldest son attending a concert at the Barclays Center.
‘As we try to make sense of this unimaginable tragedy our hearts break for the family involved in this devastating murder-suicide in Clarkstown,’ Rockland County Executive Ed Day said.
The county medical examiner’s office will conduct autopsies as the investigation continues.
![](https://webtoday.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Best-Nicknames-For-Amanda-That-Are-Creative-And-Funny-e1697637796767.jpg)
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.