The Yonkers neighborhood is in shock over the untimely death of Arlene O'Neill, a cherished mother and teacher. In a tragic murder-suicide involving her husband, retired NYPD detective Sean O'Neill, Arlene was shot and killed. The fact that the tragedy happened in the family's house and their kids were the ones who had to call 911 shocked everyone even more.
The horrifying event unfolded on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, following a morning argument. Sean, 54, allegedly shot his wife, Arlene O'Neill, multiple times before taking his own life. When the police arrived at the house, they discovered the couple dead.
Although they were not physically hurt, their children, aged 15, 13, and 11, were reportedly present in the home at the time of the shootings.
Who was Arlene O'Neill?
Arlene O'Neill, 47, was a fifth-grade teacher at Anne Hutchinson School in the Eastchester Union Free School District. A GoFundMe account has been set up in Arlene's name where she is being remembered as:
“A truly remarkable individual: a dedicated, hard-working teacher for over 25 years in the Eastchester School District, a fearless mother, a thoughtful sister and a kind friend.”
The tribute goes on to say:
"Arlene exemplified strength, kindness, and resilience. She poured her heart into both her classroom and her home, always putting others before herself. Arlene’s life was tragically taken on October 16, 2024. Her boys will now face the challenge of growing up without their rock, their advocate, and their best friend."
As of Friday, the GoFundMe campaign for Arlene O'Neill, set up to support her sons Sean, Brendan, and Nolan with their educational needs, has raised over $350,000.
Arlene's tragic death has also drawn the support of Kevin Clancy, host of the popular KFC Radio podcast, which airs Tuesdays and Thursdays. Clancy took to Instagram to promote a Barstool Fundraiser aimed at supporting Arlene O'Neill’s sons and family. In his post, he wrote:
"T shirts on sale, 100% of net proceeds will go to the O’Neill family. Please go to @barstoolstore and help support those boys. "
He followed up his Barstool Fundraiser post with another, emphasizing the importance of supporting Arlene's family, many of whom have served in public roles, including the Yonkers Fire Department, FDNY, Yonkers Police, and NYPD. He wrote:
"Her brother and nephew are in Yonkers Fire Department, many cousins are in the Yonkers Police Department, and her brother & sister in law were in the NYPD. Arlene was a teacher for 25 years. Whole Family of heroes who gave to their community, so we should step up and give it back."
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After Arlene O'Neill's tragic death, the school district brought in a crisis team to help students, staff, and faculty deal with grief. Other schools also sent counselors to provide extra support. The district expressed deep sadness, calling her not only an excellent teacher but a cherished member of the community. A private mass was scheduled to honor her at a local church.
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