On January 20, 2023, 14-year-old Ava Wood was fatally shot in the back with a shotgun by her father, Christopher Wood (age 51), while she was in her bed at their home in Baldwinsville, New York. The father then killed himself with the same weapon and was found in a separate bedroom. The parents were separated but still married, and the child primarily lived with her father. The father had a history of mental health issues and had exhibited escalating controlling and harassing behavior toward the mother, including stalking and sending harassing text messages. The night before the murder-suicide, the father told the mother by phone, "This is how it ends for us." The bodies were discovered after the mother called 911 when the child did not show up for school that morning. The cause of death was two gunshot wounds to the back, and the manner of death was ruled homicide.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The fatality report states the father "shot the subject child in the back with a shotgun" and then "shot and killed himself." The Syracuse.com article confirms: "He was armed with a shotgun, Onondaga County deputies said." This is explicitly a firearm incident.
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The fatality report states that "the father shot the subject child in the back with a shotgun," resulting in her death. The cause of death was listed as "two gunshot wounds of the back." This is a clear inflicted injury by gunshot.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
The fatality report states that the father "shot the subject child in the back with a shotgun" and then "shot and killed himself." The Syracuse.com article explicitly describes this as an "apparent murder-suicide." Two deaths at the scene: the child and the father.
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The fatality report identifies the perpetrator as "Father" (male, 51 years) in the household composition, listed as the "Alleged Perpetrator." The additional information section refers to him as "SF" (Subject Father) and "BF" (Biological Father), e.g., "The SF and SC were deceased." All allegations of DOA/Fatality, Inadequate Guardianship, and Internal Injuries were substantiated against the father.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The Syracuse.com article states: "The mother and father had been involved in two previous domestic incidents, Shelley said." One involved stalking in March 2022, and the other involved harassing text messages two days before the death. The fatality report further describes the father's controlling behavior: "The father consistently tried to get information from the mother about where she was and who she was with," and "the father was obsessive about it." The fatality report also notes "the father kicked the mother out of the residence" during their separation.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states: "The father had a history of unknown mental health diagnoses, was previously engaged in mental health treatment, and on unknown medication to treat such diagnoses. The mother reported the father struggled with his mental health after their separation and was regularly speaking to a therapist as a result." The NY Post article corroborates: "Heather also reportedly told the dispatcher that Christopher had been depressed recently."
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the source texts. First, the night before the killing, the father told the mother "This is how it ends for us" during a phone call, per the NY Post and Syracuse.com articles — a chilling statement that could be interpreted as a warning or threat. Second, the fatality report reveals that between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM on 1/19/23, the subject child texted her mother advising her to turn off her phone's location, indicating the child was aware of her father's escalating surveillance and control. Third, the father's last text to the mother at approximately 12:00 AM on 1/20/23 contained "a photo of the father and SC holding hands," a disturbing detail given what followed. Fourth, despite two prior domestic incidents involving stalking and harassment, and the father's known mental health struggles, the mother denied knowledge that the father owned a firearm, and there was no CPS history. The OCFS report ultimately recommended no policy or prevention changes.
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