A tragic situation unfolded in a suburban home in Rockland County, New York, where a family of four was discovered dead in the early hours of Saturday, December 30.
Officials from the Clarkstown Police Department found the bodies of Watson Morgan, a 49-year-old sergeant in the Bronxville Police Department, his 43-year-old wife Ornela Morgan, and their two sons, aged 10 and 12, in their New City residence.
The discovery occurred around 12:20 a.m. at the family’s address, 10 Clydesdale Court, during a welfare check performed by the police. The welfare check was initiated when Sgt. Watson Morgan, a 16-year veteran of the Bronxville Police Department following his service in the New York Police Department, did not report to his assigned shift on Friday night.
According to investigators, all four family members appeared to have died from gunshot wounds. Evidence on the scene led authorities to speculate that Sgt. Morgan may have shot his wife and two children before ending his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The presence of a handgun at the scene lent credence to this theory.
Ornela Morgan, Watson’s wife, was a technology teacher at a public school in New York City. The incident has profoundly affected the Bronxville Police Department, the Clarkstown Central School District, and the wider community. The two young victims were students at Laurel Plains Elementary School and Felix Festa Middle School. The school district has conveyed its deepest sympathies over the loss of the two students and plans to offer counseling services to the community.
Those acquainted with the Morgan family, including neighbors, expressed shock at the news, recalling Watson Morgan as a dedicated father. This image was echoed by the Clarkstown School District, underscoring the stark difference between the public’s perception of Morgan and the events that unfolded. The Clarkstown Police Department continues to investigate the motives and circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The Clarkstown Police Department has reassured the public that this was a singular incident and does not pose an ongoing threat to community safety. However, they have requested any information from the public that could further illuminate the case.
This tragic event has sparked discussions about mental health and wellness, particularly among law enforcement personnel. The Bronxville Police Department, where Watson Morgan was scheduled to retire in two months, is reportedly offering support to its officers in the aftermath of the incident.
