'Everyone is very distressed' over shooting dead of Irish woman in New York

Denise Morgan. Picture: The Cottage Bar Restaurant/Facebook

A parish priest has spoken of the deep distress felt by a small community in Co Louth after a young woman who had emigrated from the area was shot dead in New York.

Denise Morgan, 39, from Tullyallen, Co Louth, was found dead in her home in Queens on Saturday in an apparent murder-suicide.

A body of man was also found in the home, with a handgun beside it.

Emergency services were called to the scene when a neighbour rang 911 after hearing an argument followed by gunshots.

In a statement police in New York told the Irish Examiner: “The identities of the deceased are confirmed as Denise Zaitschek, 39-year-old female, 73-22 69Pl, Queens, NY and Joed Taveras, 33-year-old male, Queens, NY”.

Ms Morgan was a mother of one who had moved from a small village outside Drogheda, to New York with her daughter around five years ago.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Fr Sean Dooley said Ms Morgan was remembered at Mass in Tullyallen on Tuesday.

“Her family were at Mass on Sunday, it is simply shocking and very very distressing” he said. “We remembered her at mass on Sunday and again this morning.

“People are distressed. I’m very glad to see so many people rally around the family, it is a very sad time for them”.

Ms Morgan was working in The Cottage Bar restaurant in New York and was described as popular among staff there.

She had been living in Glendale close to Kew Gardens and Forest Hills.

A representative for The Cottage Bar posted online: “The sudden loss of Denise Morgan has left us all in shock and sorrow. It is incredibly difficult to comprehend the void left by her sudden departure.

“Her warmth, kindness, and vibrant spirit will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Our heartfelt condolences are for her family as you mourn this profound loss. We will always appreciate the person she was”.

Online tributes

Tributes have poured in for Ms Morgan online, including a note from her sister Shannon who wrote: “No words can express the pain we are dealing with. In the blink of an eyelid, our world is broken, and we are absolutely crushed.

“My brilliant sister has been taken from my life by such a heinous cowardly act. We will never get justice for this. We are absolutely heartbroken. She was the kindest, sweetest soul I know.” 

Meanwhile a Go Fund Me page has been set up to help the Morgan family repatriate Denise's remains back to Ireland.

It has raised more than €25,000, and the organiser of the appeal has thanked all those who donated, saying, they “cannot explain what this will mean to Denise's family… you are all incredible”.

In a statement to the Irish Examiner, a spokesperson for the Deputy Commissioner Public Information with the New York Police Department said: “Upon arrival, officers observed two persons (one male, one female), unconscious and unresponsive with gunshot wounds to their heads, within the second floor living room area of the residence.

“EMS responded to the location and pronounced the 39-year female and the 33-year-old male deceased at the scene.

A firearm was recovered in the vicinity of the deceased male. The investigation remains ongoing.”