The devastated brother of a Sullivan County man who police say was killed by his neighbor in a double murder-suicide the day after Christmas is speaking publicly for the first time about their family’s painful ordeal and what may have led to the tragedy.

Thomas Fusco, of Wurtsboro, was fatally shot inside his Yankee Lake home on Sunset Point. State police say the 65-year-old was killed by 72-year-old Richard Daloia, who shot his own 69-year-old wife, Marianne Daloia, during the incident before turning the gun on himself.

The triple shooting prompted a massive, multiagency response in the normally quiet lakefront community. Fusco’s brother, Robert, says their family is stunned and had just spent hours the day before celebrating Christmas with Thomas.

“He was my best friend,” says Robert Fusco. “We planned to go snowmobiling on the lake.”

He says his brother had a relationship with Marianne Daloia 20 years ago when she was divorced but that there was no indication of any problems between the neighbors.

“Back in 98’, I got married. My brother was divorced at the time; Marianne was divorced at the time,” says Robert Fusco. “They hooked up at my wedding {and} the relationship went on for a few years. They remained friends and then Rich came back into her life.”

Robert says the Daloia’s were married and divorced from each other twice before remarrying again. He says both families, who’ve lived near each other on the lake for generations, are stunned by the tragic turn of events.

“I’ve been crying for three and a half days, but I will smile and laugh again when I think of my brother and all the good times we had. we’re not going to let evil destroy what we have.”

Robert Fusco says a relative was outside of the family’s home when his brother was shot and called 911 for help.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community and an online fundraiser for Fusco’s adult son, who is recently injured, has raised several thousand dollars.

Tom Fusco worked for the New York State Police Troop F barracks in Middletown as a maintenance worker for seven years, according to his brother, and was named Civilian of the Year before he retired last October.

State police say the incident remains under investigation.