An 11-year-old boy from Syracuse, New York, died moments after calling his mother for help — allegedly after being shot by his own father in a horrific act of domestic violence that has left a community in shock.
David Huff, 43, has been charged with the murders of his son, Jeremiah Huff, and his girlfriend, 32-year-old Yeraldith Tschudy. According to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE, Huff faces one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, and one count of criminal possession of a weapon used in the killings.
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Officers responded to a home on Roney Road around 9:34 p.m. on March 17, where they found both Jeremiah and Tschudy dead from apparent gunshot wounds. The boy’s mother, Samantha Gallup-Peltier, shared the heart-wrenching detail that Jeremiah called her after he had been shot — a moment that will haunt her forever.
“We will miss him every day,” Gallup-Peltier told reporters. “My life is empty.” Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick described the tragic circumstances in a press conference. “It’s one thing to get a phone call and find out your child is dead in a car accident or some other heinous act,” Fitzpatrick said. “But to be on the phone listening to your son murdered — she’ll never get over that. Ever.”
After a brief manhunt, New York State Police and Syracuse Police located Huff about two miles from the crime scene. He was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Onondaga County Justice Center pending further court proceedings.
A GoFundMe campaign launched to support Gallup-Peltier has raised over $35,000 of its $40,000 goal. Organized by family friends and colleagues, the fundraiser aims to help cover funeral expenses and other unexpected costs during this devastating time.
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“We are friends and colleagues of Samantha Gallup-Peltier, who tragically lost her son, Jeremiah (Jer), in an unthinkable act of violence,” wrote organizer Maria Giannino. “We want to come together to support them.”
Gallup-Peltier told NBC 24 that her focus now is on preserving Jeremiah’s memory. “He’s got friends and school that won’t forget him,” she said. “He’s got a whole group of people here that won’t forget him. Please don’t stop saying his name. It’s Jeremiah. Jeremiah Huff.”
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