In an apparent murder-suicide, a 14-year-old girl was discovered dead inside a Baldwinsville home early on Friday, according to law enforcement officials.
It appears that the girl’s father killed her before committing suicide. They were discovered dead in two different bedrooms, with Ava discovered in a bed, according to authorities.
Ava Wood, 14, and her father, Christopher Wood, 51, were discovered inside their house at 6 Triangle Place, a street off West Genesee Street in the village of Baldwinsville, both with fatal gunshot wounds.
According to authorities, the father’s wounds seemed to be self-inflicted.
At a press conference today at noon, Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley and Baldwinsville Police Chief Michael Lefancheck announced the fatalities.
According to Onondaga County 911 Center transmissions, a mother called 911 at 8:31 a.m. on Friday to request a status check at 6 Triangle Place after her daughter failed to arrive for school.
According to dispatches, the woman stated that there were vehicles in the driveway but no one was at the door. She informed the dispatchers that the daughter’s father was present at the house with them.
According to dispatches, the woman claimed to have spoken to the father last night and that he had said, “This is how it ends for us.”
At the house on Triangle Place, Ava largely resided with her father, according to Lefancheck. The police said that although her parents were still legally married, they did not cohabitate.
According to Shelley, the mother and father had been involved in two prior domestic disputes. Both incidents were peaceful, according to Shelley.
He said the most recent incidence happened just two days earlier. Shelley claimed that the mother was receiving threatening text messages from the father. He stated that the earlier occurrence occurred in March 2022. The event, according to Shelley, featured stalking.
According to authorities and a school official, Ava was a 9th grader at Durgee Junior High School who participated in track & field and played soccer in the classroom. According to the Baldwinsville Girls Soccer website, she wore number 18 on the junior varsity soccer squad.
Some parents were picking up their kids from school at 1 o’clock. Some kids sobbed as they left the building.
Just after noon, the Baldwinsville school system sent an email to parents and staff.
“It is with great sadness and a very heavy heart that I inform you of the tragic loss of Durgee Jr. High School 9th grade student Ava Wood,” the email said. “We are a close-knit school community and our hearts are broken by this tragedy. Our thoughts are with Ava’s family and friends during this extremely difficult time.”
Parents were informed by district representatives that the high school will offer counselling and support services for students and families on Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday and Saturday immediately after noon, send parents and workers an email.
