A New York man is accused of fatally shooting both his parents before turning the gun on himself in what deputies are treating as a murder-suicide, with authorities now facing scrutiny over why he was free on bail at the time. Justin Sislo, 35, allegedly killed Steve Sislo, 76, and Donna Walker-Sislo, 72, at their home in Madison on Friday, and Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood has said he believes Sislo should have been held in custody rather than released.

The couple had paid $10,000 to bail their son out twice within a single month, most recently after his 29 July arrest on around two dozen domestic violence-related charges, during which several firearms were found at his home despite two protective orders barring him from possessing guns. Court records also show he faced strangulation and endangerment charges in Cayuga County in June. Steve Sislo was a well-known local businessman and philanthropist tied to organisations including the Capitol Theatre and the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce.