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Syracuse police have arrested David Huff in connection with a double homicide that took place on Monday (March 17) in Syracuse. Huff is accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend, 32-year-old Yeraldith Tschudy, and his 11-year-old son, Jeremiah Huff, at a home on Roney Road. The arrest occurred on Tuesday morning after a 12-hour manhunt, following a tip-off from a person who spotted Huff walking near West Seneca Turnpike, not far from the crime scene.
Jeremiah Huff, a sixth-grader at Gillette Road Middle School, was described by his teachers as "a friend to all" with a passion for skiing and skateboarding, according to Syracuse.com. The Onondaga County District Attorney, William Fitzpatrick, confirmed that the young boy was on the phone with his mother shortly before the shooting, and she was the first to call 911 to report the incident.
David Huff has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He is expected to be arraigned today. The North Syracuse Central School District has offered counseling services for students at Gillette Road Middle School to help them cope with the loss of their classmate.
The district's superintendent, Terry Ward, expressed condolences and support for Jeremiah's family and classmates, stating, "Our school community is close-knit, and we are deeply shaken by this loss. In times of sorrow, we find strength in one another" as reported by WSYR-TV.