PINEHURST, NC — Police in North Carolina have determined that James Gaddy, a prominent educator in New Rochelle for decades, killed his wife with 4 bullets to the back of her head, waited 2 or 3 days, then turned the gun on himself. He died of a single round to the chest. Talk of the Sound spoke with the Village of Pinehurst Police Department and obtained a prepared statement.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT:
The Village of Pinehurst Police Department hereby releases that after undergoing investigations, a case regarding the death of two Village of Pinehurst residents at 26 Edinburgh Lane is now reported closed and cleared as a murder/suicide.
On Friday January 8, 2016 at approximately 10:33pm, the Pinehurst Police Department received a call through the Moore County 911 call center from 26 Edinburgh Lane. A family member reported arriving at the address and finding James Roosevelt Gaddy and his wife Josie Victoria Gaddy deceased in their home. Members of the Pinehurst Fire Department, the Pinehurst Police Department, the Moore County Sheriff’s Department and Moore County EMS responded to the call.
Pinehurst Police Department officers were first to arrive on scene and immediately began to assist family members in rendering CPR on Mr. James Gaddy. James Gaddy was pronounced dead at the scene. Josie Gaddy had no immediate signs of life and had been deceased for a considerable amount of time prior to being discovered.
Officers found James and Josie Gaddy had both suffered severe gunshot wounds. A thorough death investigation has been completed and as a result, the following determinations have been made:
• There were no signs of forced entry into the residence.
• There are no remaining suspects to identify in this investigation.
• There is no threat to public safety.
The case investigation has been determined to be a murder/suicide investigation with both the sole suspect, Mr. James Roosevelt Gaddy, and the victim, Mrs. Josie Victoria Gaddy being deceased at the time of this release. Based on all of the evidence gathered, reviewed and related to this investigation, this event has been determined to be a pre-planned event by Mr. James Roosevelt Gaddy.
James Gaddy suffered a single, self-inflicted, .32 caliber gunshot wound to the chest the evening of Friday January 8, 2016. James Gaddy shot Josie Gaddy, killing her at least 48 to 72 hours prior to killing himself on the evening of January 8, 2016. Josie Gaddy suffered four .32 caliber gunshot wounds to the rear head area. A .32 caliber revolver was recovered at the scene.
At the time of this release, the case is closed and cleared. Both the victim and the sole suspect in this matter are deceased.
Many in New Rochelle are shocked at the news.
James Gaddy was the first African-American secondary school principal in the City School District of New Rochelle School (Dr. Barbara Mason, who died in 2012, was Principal of Roosevelt Elementary school in 1958). Gaddy served 16 years as the principal at New Rochelle High School. He was named Superintendent of Schools in New Rochelle in 1985, a position he held until 1992.
“Dr. James Gaddy served the City School District of New Rochelle for 24 years as Director of Secondary Education, Principal of New Rochelle High School, and ultimately Superintendent of Schools,” said current New Rochelle Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Osborne. “This news comes as a shock to the entire New Rochelle community.”
Gaddy served on the Board of Trustees of Monroe College for 28 years.
In 2014, Monroe College dedicated its newest dormitory on the New Rochelle campus in his honor. Gaddy Hall provides on-campus housing for 300 students and includes seven classrooms, faculty offices and a cafeteria.
“We are deeply saddened by the news and extend our most heartfelt sympathies to the Gaddy family, said Monroe College President Stephen Jerome. “Dr. Gaddy was a long-time, valued friend to Monroe College, and he will always be remembered here for the distinguished educator he was and his unwavering commitment to students.”
The New Rochelle High School Library and the main building on Monroe College’s New Rochelle campus are named for James Gaddy. There are ongoing discussions about renaming the two buildings.
James Gaddy grew up in North Carolina, went to college at Boston University, received a master’s degree from Hofstra University, and completed his doctorate from Union Graduate School at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
The Gaddys are survived by their daughter, April Gaddy-Chappell.