Left inset: David Huff being arrested by Syracuse police on Tuesday, March 18 (Syracuse.com/YouTube). Right inset: David Huff (CNY Central/YouTube). Background: The home where David Huff allegedly killed his son and girlfriend in the 100 block of Roney Road in Syracuse, N.Y. (CNY Central/YouTube).
A father in New York is accused of killing his girlfriend and 11-year-old son — slaughtering both with a shotgun inside of his home — despite having no known history of domestic violence, with neighbors describing him as a “very friendly” man with a “great family.”
“Certain people you don’t expect, and they were no one I would expect,” neighbor Laverne McInnis told local NBC affiliate WSTM about David Huff, 43, who is charged in Syracuse for the double murder of his son Jeremiah Huff and girlfriend Yeraldith Tschudy, 32, on Monday night at his home in the 100 block of Roney Road, according to police officials.
A manhunt was launched for Huff after the killings were discovered and he was taken into custody Tuesday morning “in the area of the crime scene” thanks to a tip from a local citizen who spotted him near his residence and called the cops. Body camera footage released by New York State Police and posted online by Syracuse.com shows Huff being apprehended as he walks on a nearby sidewalk.
“This is him,” an officer can be heard saying after cuffing Huff.
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick detailed at a news conference Wednesday morning how Huff allegedly used a shotgun to kill both Jeremiah and Tschudy, with him even pointing it at his own dad at one point, though he was stopped when the gun failed to fire, according to the Democrat & Chronicle.
Court documents obtained by WSTM outline how Huff used a Remington 870 Express 12 Gauge to first kill Tschudy and then Jeremiah. It’s unclear what he allegedly did afterward or where he went. On Wednesday morning, Jeremiah and Tschudy’s families packed into a local courtroom and verbally tore into Huff for what he allegedly did.
“Murderer!” one person shouted along with several others, according to WSTM.
“You ruined this family,” another said. “I hope you rot in hell!”
Jeremiah’s mother, Samantha Gallup-Peltier, describes him as a loving boy who showed affection toward “every animal” and others — even saying that he “loved his father,” according to WSTM.
“Please don’t forget him,” Gallup-Peltier told reporters at the news conference Wednesday. “Please don’t stop saying his name. Jeremiah. Jeremiah Huff.”
The Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office says it is still weighing exactly what charges to hand down to Huff for the killings. He’s currently facing one count of murder in the first degree and two counts of murder in the second degree, as well as criminal possession of a weapon. Officials said Wednesday that he has no known history or prior charges for domestic violence.
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