Ava Wood fatally shot in apparent murder-suicide by father Christopher Wood in Baldwinsville home

In an apparent murder-suicide, a 14-year-old girl was discovered dead inside a Baldwinsville home early on Friday, according to law enforcement officials.

It appears that the girl’s father killed her before committing suicide. They were discovered dead in two different bedrooms, with Ava discovered in a bed, according to authorities.

Both Ava Wood, age 14, and her father, Christopher Wood, age 51, were discovered shot to death inside their home located at 6 Triangle Place, which is located in the village of Baldwinsville only one block off of West Genesee Street.

According to authorities, the father’s wounds seemed to be self-inflicted.

At twelve o’clock today, Baldwinsville Police Chief Michael Lefancheck and Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley appeared at a news conference to make the tragic announcement.

According to the dispatches from the Onondaga County 911 Center, a mother called 911 at 8:31 a.m. to request a status check at 6 Triangle Place since her daughter had not shown up for school on Friday.

According to the dispatches, the woman called in to report that there were cars in the driveway of the residence, but there was no answer at the door. She informed the dispatchers that the girl’s father was now there at the residence together with the child.

According to dispatches, the woman reported to them that she had spoken to the father the previous night, and he had stated that this is how it will end for the both of them.

According to Lefancheck, Ava spent the majority of her time at the house on Triangle Place with her father. According to the authorities, her parents remained married even though they were separated and did not live together.

According to what Shelley claimed, the mother and the father had been involved in two earlier instances of domestic violence. Shelley reported that neither instance entailed physical conflict.

According to him, the most recent occurrence took place not more than two days ago. According to what Shelley stated, the mother was receiving threatening and harassing text messages from the father. According to him, the earlier occurrence took place in March of 2022. According to Shelley, the event involved stalking in some kind.

Ava was a ninth-grader at Durgee Junior High School who, according to authorities and a school official, participated in track & field and soccer. According to the Baldwinsville Girls Soccer website, she wore number 18 on the junior varsity team.

A message was sent through email to parents as well as employees of the Baldwinsville school system just after noon.

“It is with great sadness and a very heavy heart that I inform you of the tragic loss of Durgee Jr. High School 9th grade student Ava Wood,” the email said. “We are a close-knit school community and our hearts are broken by this tragedy. Our thoughts are with Ava’s family and friends during this extremely difficult time.”

All Baldwinsville Central School District after-school, evening, athletic and performing arts practices and events for this evening, Friday, January 20, 2023 have been canceled due to a tragic death of Durgee Junior High School 9th grade student Ava Wood.

Counseling and support services for students and families will be available at Durgee Jr. High School this evening Friday, January 20, 2023 between 4:00 and 6:00 PM and on Saturday, January 21, 2023 and Sunday, January 22, 2023 between the hours of 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM.