Sisters killed in apparent double murder-suicide

(Manahawkin - WABC, November 9, 2006) (WABC) -- A horrific apparent double murder-suicide claimed the lives of two young sisters who were gunned down in a house in the Manahawkin section of Stafford, N.J., Thursday morning.

Neighbors say they heard shots fired at 107 Mercer Avenue just before noon.

There may be more than three victims here, because police are looking into reports the older sister may have been pregnant at the time of the shooting. Police say the gunman went on a rampage and left an entire community in shock.

A one-story cape home was the scene of a horrible crime. There were reports of screaming and shouting, and that's when neighbors say they heard gunfire.

"And then all the sudden, I heard 'pow, pow,'" neighbor Thomas Niemiec said. "Two pops, and I knew they were gunshots from my military background."

Authorities say 21-year-old Melissa Veitch and 15-year-old Jessica Veitch were each shot once in the torso as they got out of their car in the driveway. Police say neither girl ever regained consciousness, and both died in the afternoon.

Jessica Veitch, a sophomore at Southern Regional High School, was described as a happy teen who loved her friends. She also played the clarinet in the band and aspired to be a model, according to her Web site.

Jessica's friends were stunned at the news.

"It doesn't feel like this is really happening," friend Nicole Bartley said. "We've known her since forever. Just to know something like this happened to her is kind of scary."

Police say the suspected shooter then went inside the house and killed himself.

"Upon entering the home, they found inside the home an adult male from what is apparently a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head," Ocean County prosecutor Thomas Kelaher said. "He was sprawled on the coach in the living room."

The gunman has not yet been identified, but cops say the a gun was found next to him in the house. Police have not determined a motive.

Authorities say the victims' mother, Dorea Veitch, learned about the killings when she was headed home around 1:00 p.m.

One neighbor, Dina Deluca, heard gunshots and saw one of the sisters lying on the front lawn.

"All I heard was gun shots and screaming," Deluca said. "Then we locked the doors and started screaming for her."

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