Authorities are investigating a devastating case of domestic violence in Brighton, New York, where an 11-year-old girl and her grandmother were shot to death by the girl’s father before taking his own life. The tragedy unfolded on Hollyvale Drive on Friday, shortly before noon, when police responded to reports of an unresponsive child.
According wham!Anne Mancuso, 11, was rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead from gunshot wounds. Inside the neighboring home, officers found Mary Liccini, 74, Anne’s grandmother, also shot to death. The shooter, Lawrence Mancuso, 53, was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Brighton Police Chief David Catholdi described the incident as “a terrible case of domestic violence.” Lawrence Mancuso, who had been on leave from his role as assistant dean of human resources at Cornell University’s School of Industrial Labor Relations, was living separately from his daughter on Hollyvale Drive.
Ana, student of the Brighton Central School DistrictShe was remembered as a “kind, sweet and beautiful person in every way,” according to a statement from Superintendent Kevin McGowan. He expressed his deep regret and offered his condolences to Anne’s mother, Sarah Liccini, and her family.
“The peaceful tranquility of a winter morning was brutally broken yesterday in one of our neighborhoods, and the lives of an incredible little girl and her grandmother were taken.” McGowan wrote. “The circumstances are the very definition of inexplicable, surreal and tragic in every way.”
To support those grieving, the district provided counseling to students, staff and families over the weekend and Monday at Twelve Corners High School. A GoFundMe campaign was created to assist Anne’s mother, Sarah Liccini, with immediate expenses, memorial arrangements and long-term recovery needs.
The page, which set a goal of $110,000, had raised nearly $78,000 as of Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 7. “This devastating loss left Sarah, her father, John Liccini and their family reeling after such a horrible event,” the fundraiser said. “We are coming together to support Sarah and her family during this time of incredible loss and grief.”
The Brighton community continues to deal with the shocking incident, which shattered a family’s life and left many searching for answers to an unimaginable tragedy.