1984 Palm Sunday massacre

Mass shooting in New York, U.S. December 2025 May 2021 Palm Sunday Massacre (disambiguation)Palm Sunday Massacre 1080 Liberty AvenueEast New York, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.https://archives.law.virginia.edu/dengrove/writeup/palm-sunday-massacre The Courtroom Sketches of Ida Libby Dengrove - Palm Sunday Massacre University of Virginia Law School Archives 31 March 2018 USA New York City 40.678203 -73.869449 40.678203 N 73.869449 W region:US-NY_type:event title,inline 1984 04 15 Mass shooting mass murder home invasion 10 0 Christopher Thomas Jealousy Two handguns (.22-caliber pistol, .38-caliber handgun)https://www.apnews.com/amp/d920ee8e21aaae989de9bacc36258373 Man Convicted of Manslaughter In Slayings of 10 Women and Children July 19, 1985 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20181018003020/https://www.apnews.com/d920ee8e21aaae989de9bacc36258373 October 18, 2018 AP News First degree manslaughter (10 counts)Second degree criminal possession of a weapon On April 15, 1984, a mass shooting occurred in Brooklyn, New York, United States. The event resulted in the deaths of ten people: two women, and eight children. There was one survivor, an infant girl.https://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/16/nyregion/10-in-brooklyn-are-found-slain-inside-a-house.html 10 IN BROOKLYN ARE FOUND SLAIN INSIDE A HOUSE 16 April 1984 The New York Times 3 January 2016 It was the deadliest mass shooting in New York until it was superseded by the 2009 Binghamton shooting. Shootings All of the victims were shot, with a total of 19 bullets fired from two handguns at close range, most in the head, and were found in relaxed poses sitting in couches and chairs, suggesting that they had been taken by surprise. There were no signs of drugs or robbery at the home.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-19-mn-6511-story.html Man Guilty of Manslaughter in Massacre Los Angeles Times July 19, 1985 3 January 2016 The sole survivor, an infant girl, was raised by her grandmother. Joanne Jaffe, at the time a "beat cop" and by 2014 the highest ranking female officer in the New York City Police Department, was assigned to the infant girl, and stayed in contact with her as she grew up. The girl lived with Jaffe starting at age 14. In 2014, after the death of the girl's grandmother, Jaffe adopted her at the age of 31.https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/13/nyregion/30-years-after-the-palm-sunday-massacre-christina-rivera-and-joanne-jaffe-tell-their-story.html The Toddler Who Survived, and the Cop Who Became Her Mom 13 April 2014 The New York Times 3 January 2016 List of victims Betsy Bermudez, age 14 – sister of Marelyn Bermudez and daughter of homeowner Enrique Bermudez Marelyn Bermudez, age 10 – sister of Betsy Bermudez and daughter of homeowner Enrique Bermudez Eddie Lopez, age 7 – son of Virginia Perez and brother of Juan Enrique Lopez Juan Enrique Lopez, age 4 – son of Virginia Perez and brother of Eddie Lopez Virginia Perez, age 23 – mother of Eddie and Juan Enrique Lopez. She was also the girlfriend of homeowner Enrique Bermudez and was eight months pregnant with their child at the time of her murder. Alberto Maldonado, age 5 – son of Carmen Perez and brother of Noel Maldonado and half-brother of Christina Rivera, the sole survivor of the massacre. Noel Maldonado, age 4 – son of Carmen Perez and brother of Alberto Maldonado and half-brother of Christina Rivera, the sole survivor of the massacre. Carmen Perez, age 23 – mother of Alberto and Noel Maldonado and Christina Rivera, the sole survivor of the massacre and sister of Migdalia Perez. Maria Isabel Perez, age 10 – cousin of Carmen and Migdalia Perez Migdalia Perez, age 14 – sister of Carmen Perez and aunt of Alberto and Noel Maldonado and Christina Rivera. Legal proceedings In 1985, Christopher Thomas was convicted on ten counts of manslaughter, but was cleared of murder charges. The jury had convicted him of intentional murder, but the charges were reduced due to "extreme emotional disturbance" and Thomas being high on drugs. Prosecutors said the motive was jealousy,https://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/17/nyregion/drug-link-is-seen-in-slayings-of-10.html DRUG LINK IS SEEN IN SLAYINGS OF 10 17 April 1984 New York Times 21 July 2019https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/21/nyregion/3-key-clues-led-to-suspect-in-mass-murders.html 3 KEY CLUES LED TO SUSPECT IN MASS MURDERS 21 June 1984 New York Times 21 July 2019https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/20/nyregion/defendant-in-the-killing-of-10-is-guilty-of-reduced-charge.html DEFENDANT IN THE KILLING OF 10 IS GUILTY OF REDUCED CHARGE 20 July 1985 New York Times 21 July 2019http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1985-07-20/news/8501300290_1_murder-charges-palm-sunday-massacre-manslaughter https://web.archive.org/web/20140416181847/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1985-07-20/news/8501300290_1_murder-charges-palm-sunday-massacre-manslaughter dead April 16, 2014 Killer In Massacre Convicted tribunedigital-sunsentinel 3 January 2016https://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/25/us/mass-slayings-and-toll-mcdonald-s-case-biggest.html MASS SLAYINGS AND TOLL: MCDONALD'S CASE BIGGEST 25 April 1987 The New York Times 3 January 2016 claiming Thomas suspected his wife of having an affair with the home's owner, a convicted cocaine dealer named Enrique Bermudez. Thomas's wife testified her husband was "enraged" over finding her at the Bermudez residence without him and set fire to his and her shared residence when she told him she was leaving him. Bermudez claimed Thomas had once asked Bermudez to have sex with Thomas's wife, but Bermudez declined.September 2026 Other witnesses testified they had seen Thomas "looking bizarre" in or near the residence earlier on the day of the murders. Bermudez confirmed this, saying Thomas had visited him that morning asking for drugs and cash. When Bermudez asked about some $9,000 Thomas already owed him, Thomas reportedly promised a surprise. Thomas was sentenced to from 83 to 250 years, but due to state law was expected to spend no more than 50 years in prison.https://apnews.com/9659f23dd642eb1a084aaf8ea4003310 'Palm Sunday Massacre' Triggerman Could Be Out in 50 Years Associated Press 3 January 2016 He ended up serving just over 32 years before being released in 2018, having served two thirds of the maximum fifty years allowed by New York State.https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/30/nyregion/palm-sunday-massacre-christopher-thomas.html Man Who Killed 10 People in 1984 'Palm Sunday Massacre' Is Released From Prison Joseph Goldstein The New York Times 30 March 2018 15 January 2019 Release from prison In January 2018, Thomas was paroled from prison, after being incarcerated for nearly 34 years. The early release is credited to the sentence being reduced to manslaughter after he was found to have been under the influence of drugs at the time.2018-03-31 "Palm Sunday Massacre" killer Christopher Thomas freed after 34 years in prison - CBS News https://www.cbsnews.com/news/palm-sunday-massacre-christopher-thomas-freed-from-prison-34-years-later/ 2024-10-23 www.cbsnews.com en-US See also Mass shootings in the United States List of shootings in New York List of massacres in the United States List of disasters in New York City by death toll References Category:Mass shootings involving revolvers Category:1980s crimes in New York City Category:1980s in Brooklyn Category:1984 in New York City Category:1984 mass shootings in the United States Category:1984 murders in the United States Category:April 1984 in the United States Category:Crimes in Brooklyn Category:Deaths by firearm in Brooklyn Category:Familicides in the United States Category:Child murder in New York (state) Category:Mass murders in New York City Category:1980s mass murders in the United States Category:Mass shootings in New York City Category:Massacres in 1984 Category:Massacres in the United States Category:1980s trials Category:Murder trials in the United States Category:Trials in New York (state)