Haunting final text of woman shot dead by her 'mild-mannered' hoarder brother in Long Island murder suicide

The haunting final texts of the Long Island woman killed by her brother in a horrifying murder-suicide reveal she was celebrating her 64th birthday when she was shot dead. 

Tina Hammond was visiting her late mother's house on Sunday when she was gunned down by brother Joe DeLucia, 59, alongside their siblings Frank DeLucia, Joanna Kearns, 69, and Tina's daughter Victoria, 30.

Killer DeLucia was said to be struggling with the death of their 95-year-old mom Theresa Martha De Lucia and was scared of losing the family home where he had lived his entire life. His former coworkers today described the mechanic - who was a known to hoard his tools - as 'mild-mannered,' 'respectful' and a 'good employee.'

Horrifying screengrabs obtained by DailyMail.com show Tina had replied to a text from friend and neighbor Randi Marquis wishing her happy birthday 15 minutes before her death.

Randi texted Tina at 11.35am on Sunday to say: Happy Birthday! Make sure no one eats lunch.'

In response, Tina wrote at 11.38am: 'Thank you, I'll be at mom's in five minutes thank you so much, Randy lol I'll tell them.'

The family arranged to meet at their mother's home in Syosset, Long Island, shortly before noon on Sunday to speak to real estate agent Mary Macaluso about selling the property. 

DeLucia, who suffers from mental health issues, was terrified of being homeless despite his siblings' reassurance he would be taken care of, neighbors said.

He opened fire on his four family members, firing 12 shells and killing them instantly.

Nearby residents heard the murderer wailing, crying and screaming incoherently before he turned the gun on himself. 

Detective Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick said DeLucia had previously told neighbors: 'If you hear gunshots, don't bother calling 911, it'll be too late'. 

The killer was reportedly born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, depriving him of oxygen. 

His mental state was said to have deteriorated after family matriarch Theresa died on August 19 and was buried the following Friday. 

Sources told DailyMail.com DeLucia was $45,000 in debt which was in part amassed due to him spending all of his money on work tools and hoarding them in his family home. 

Fitzpatrick had revealed the house was 'pretty much hoarded, packed with tools.' 

Police said psychiatric medicine was found in the home during a search, along with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun that was legally bought by DeLucia.

But today, officials at Advantage Hyundai in Hicksville - where he had worked for eight years - expressed disbelief at the news. 

Joseph Gentile, a lawyer for the dealership, told DailyMail.com: 'He was a good employee.

‘He came to work every day. He did not have any problems with his co-worker or his manager nor did not have any problems with his customers.'

‘It’s incomprehensible. We know he loved his mother and he did speak about his mother often to people. He had told people his mother was sick but this is just a shock.'

He added: 'He was mild-mannered, respectful and diligent at his job. It was just a complete tragedy.’

When DailyMail.com visited DeLucia's property today, the windows were piled high with tools he had purchased and unopened boxes.

Neighbors said that Tina was trying to help both her brother and mother with their mounting bills in the days before their deaths. 

Tina was reportedly working at the registers of Giunta's Meat Farms located in Bohemia in the year and a half before her death.

Her ex-coworker Hannah Debeauchamp told DailyMail.com: 'She was honestly probably the sweetest person. Not a bad bone. Always happy. Always bubbly. Even when her mom was sick she still had a great attitude.

'She was very caring about her mom. She was a great mom herself to her own daughter.'

Manager Steven Huey said: 'She was a bubbly, friendly, outgoing person helping anybody any way she could. It's almost like a bad dream.'