Relatives described the men as devoted family members as detectives investigated the unexplained shooting inside their Angevine Avenue home.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — A Hempstead family was searching for answers Thursday after two brothers were found fatally shot inside the home they shared with their parents, leaving relatives and neighbors grieving as Nassau County detectives continued investigating their deaths.
Family members identified the brothers to local news outlets as Dave Adamson, 52, and Gary Adamson, 49. Police had not formally released their names as of Thursday morning. Officers responding to 16 Angevine Ave. about 10:20 a.m. Wednesday found both men with fatal gunshot wounds.
The discovery began after the brothers’ mother had difficulty entering an office inside the home, according to their sister. The mother called her daughter, who came over to help. The brothers were then found inside. Local reports differed on whether the room was in the basement or on the first floor, and police had not clarified the discrepancy.
The sister said the brothers lived with their parents and were closely involved in the family. She described them as fathers with families of their own and said one brother helped care for their parents. CBS News New York reported that the other worked at a church.
Relatives said they knew of no dispute or other problem that would explain the violence. Their sister told reporters the brothers had a close relationship and that there had been no known fighting between them. Authorities have not announced a motive or publicly described what they believe happened before the shooting.
A family friend, Marjorie Lindsay, described one of the brothers as a peacemaker. Other friends and relatives spoke about the men’s importance to those around them as word of their deaths spread through the neighborhood.
The police response also drew the attention of residents at a nearby senior housing complex. Several gathered near the police perimeter while Hempstead officers and members of the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Unit worked at the property. Residents told local reporters they were saddened and alarmed that two people had been killed so close to where they lived.
Police spent hours examining the home and nearby area while attempting to reconstruct what happened. Authorities have not said whether a weapon was recovered, and no suspect or arrest had been announced. Investigators also had not publicly said whether they were seeking a particular person in connection with the deaths.
Police said they did not believe there was an additional threat to the public. Even with that assurance, major questions remained for the family, including why the brothers were killed and who was responsible.
The Nassau County investigation remained ongoing Thursday, with no motive, arrest or suspect publicly announced. Detectives continued working to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths as the brothers’ relatives mourned a sudden loss inside their family home.
Author note: Last updated August 13, 2026.