Friend of the family found dead in their New York home after an apparent murder-suicide by their police officer father speaks out – as it is revealed the cop was nearing retirement.
On Saturday, officers from the Clarkstown Police Department found Bronxville Police Department Sergeant Watson Morgan, 49, his wife Ornela Morgan, 43, and their two sons aged 10 and 12 dead in their home.
Officers preformed a welfare check at 10 Clydesdale Court in New City after Watson failed to show up for work. News 12 Westchester reported he was a youth officer and expected to retire in March.
All four family members were found dead with gunshot wounds. ‘At this phase of the investigation it is believed that Watson killed his wife and two children, prior to killing himself with a self-inflicted gunshot wound,’ police said.
Kenyatta Jones-Ariette, friends of the Morgan family, said on Facebook: ‘Our hearts are super heavy today. Praying for peace. RIP Ornela, Watson, Gabe and Liam.’
Clarkstown Police Department found Watson Morgan, 49, his wife Ornela Morgan, 43, and their two sons aged 10 and 12 dead in their home on Saturday in an apparent murder-suicide
Watson Morgan has been identified as a sergeant with the Bronxville Police Department and is believed to have shot dead his wife and sons before shooting himself
Friend of the Morgan family Kenyatta Jones-Arietta (pictured) shared a Facebook tribute saying ‘Our hearts are super heavy today’
‘Sometimes things happen that are hard to make sense of. You wonder if there was anything you could have done to change the outcome. Is there something you could have said to change the trajectory?’
‘We all have our individual journeys though we occupy this space we call earth together. You never really know what’s going on inside someone’s head,’ said Jones-Arietta.
A handgun was recovered at the scene and police said the public is not in any danger.
The Bronxville Police said Watson did not show up for his evening shift on Friday so they contacted the Clarkstown Police to do the welfare check.
‘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 to CBS News.
‘Sergeant Morgan joined the New York City Police Department in 2000 and the Bronxville Police Department in 2007. He was assigned to the detective division in 2014 and promoted to Sergeant in 2016.’
The Morgan’s purchased the home in New City in 2016 for $577,000.
According to Educators of NYC on X, formerly Twitter, Ornela was a teacher for the New York City public school system.
The boys attended school in the Clarkstown Central School District. The 10-year-old went to Laurel Plains Elementary School and the 12-year-old went to Felix Festa Middle School.
Watson Morgan joined the New York City Police Department in 2000 and the Bronxville Police Department in 2007. He was a youth officer and expected to retire in March
The boys attended school in the Clarkstown Central School District. The 10-year-old went to Laurel Plains Elementary School and the 12-year-old went to Felix Festa Middle School
Officers responded to a call at 10 Clydesdale Court in New City to preform a welfare check, where they found all four family members dead with gunshot wounds
Police recovered a handgun from the scene and believe Watson killed his wife and children then himself
Laurel Plains Element PTA said on Facebook: ‘Our hearts are broken, and there are no words to express the pain we feel. Please know that you are not alone, and we are here to support one another.’
Felix Festa Middle School PTA said, ‘We are heartbroken, and shaken by the tragic loss of one of our CCSD families. The Felix Festa Middle School PTA sends our prayers, and deepest sympathy to the victims families, friends, and to the entire school community mourning today.’
The school district said, ‘The new year will undoubtedly start with great sadness and heavy hearts in our close-knit school district.’
‘The coming days and weeks will be a difficult time for our school community as we struggle to understand the loss of precious lives.’
Rockland County Executive Ed Day said, ‘As we try to make sense of this unimaginable tragedy our hearts break for the family involved in this devastating murder-suicide in Clarkstown.’