On Valentine's Day of 2023, a day that for many symbolizes love and affection, 33-year-old Lury M. Pizarro's life was tragically cut short in what was later determined to be a double murder-suicide. She was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, and was described by those who knew her as a kind, generous, and selfless person who deeply cherished her role as a mother.
On that Tuesday, she had visited her mother in Worcester, Massachusetts, bringing her chocolates and roses before returning to her home in Brooklyn, Connecticut.
Later that evening, around 8:30 p.m., Connecticut State Police responded to a report of a suspicious incident at her residence in the Quebec Square Village public housing complex. Inside, they discovered a grim scene. Lury, her 3-year-old son, Emmanuel, and 32-year-old Jose A. Perez were all found deceased. Neighbors in the vicinity reported hearing what sounded like gunshots earlier that night.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later confirmed that Lury Pizarro died from gunshot wounds to the head, neck, and torso, and her death was ruled a homicide. Her young son, Emmanuel, was also a victim of homicide, having been shot in the head. Jose Perez, who was identified as Emmanuel's father, was found to have died by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The authorities concluded that the incident was a double murder-suicide and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Family and friends were left shocked and heartbroken by the sudden and violent loss. They remembered Lury as an "amazing and beloved mother, daughter, sister and cousin" who had deeply desired to be a mother. Emmanuel was described as a "smart, loving, caring, playful 3-year-old." According to her family, Lury had been in a relationship with Perez for years and had not expressed any indication of trouble. Funeral services for Lury and her son were held in Worcester, where she had lived for many years before moving to Brooklyn a few months prior to the tragedy.
