An 11-year-old boy from upstate New York died moments after placing a phone call to his mother — after allegedly being shot by his own dad.
David Huff, 43, of Syracuse, is accused of murdering both his son Jeremiah Huff, 11, and his girlfriend Yeraldith Tschudy, 32, on March 17. He’s been charged charged with one count of first degree murder, two counts of second degree murder and one count of criminal possession of a weapon which was used to kill them, according to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE.
Police responded to a Roney Road home around 9:34 p.m., where they found Jeremiah and Tschudy both dead from apparent gunshot wounds, per the criminal complaint.
Samantha Gallup-Peltier, the mother of 11-year-old Jeremiah, said she got a call from her son after he was shot. Moments later, Jeremiah passed away before his mother could get to the house, she told reporters outside a courtroom following Huff’s arraignment, according to CNY Central.
New York State Police/Facebook
“We will miss him every day,” Gallup-Peltier said to the outlets. “My life is empty.”
Gallup-Peltier had the “unbearable tragedy of listening to her son being murdered,” Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick told reporters, according to CNY Central.
“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 manhunt across the county, New York State Police and the Syracuse Police Department found Huff about 2 mile away from the house, according to the criminal complaint.
Huff is currently being held at the Orondaga County Justice Center, pending his arraignment, according to law enforcement.
A GoFundMe set up for Gallup-Peltier for financial support, has made over $35,000, with a goal of $40,000.
“We are friends and colleagues of Samantha Gallups, who tragically lost her son, Jeremiah (Jer), in an unthinkable act of violence,” Maria Giannino, a co-worker of Gallup-Peltier wrote in the GoFundMe post. “During this heartbreaking time, the family is facing unexpected expenses, and we want to come together to support them.”
Gallup-Peltier told NBC 24 that her only concern now is keeping her son’s memory alive.
“He’s got friends and school that won’t forget him. He’s got a whole group of people here that won’t forget him,” she said. “Please don’t stop saying his name. It’s Jeremiah, Jeremiah Huff.
