SYRACUSE, N.Y. — David Huff, 43, is accused of shooting and killing his 11-year-old son, Jeremiah Huff, and his girlfriend, 32-year-old Yeraldith Tschudy from Rochester.

Jeremiah’s mother said she got a call from her son after he was shot before he died.

Samantha Gallup Peltier said this about her son, “He loved to skateboard, and he loved to fish, and he loved to snuggle on the couch, and have a cup of coffee in the morning. And he loved every animal, and he loved being outside, and he loved nature, and he loved his father, and he’s not here.”

Authorities said David Huff’s stepfather was there at the time, trying to call 911, and almost became another casualty.

David Huff appeared in court on Wednesday morning and pleaded not guilty to the murders at his arraignment in Syracuse City Court. He is being held without bail and will next appear in court on Friday for a preliminary examination.

Syracuse Police arrested David Huff on Tuesday morning and charged him with first-degree murder. The deadly double shooting happened on Monday night on Roney Road, a side street off State Route 11 in Syracuse.

The North Syracuse School District said Jeremiah was a sixth grader in the district, according to our Syracuse area NBC affiliate.

The brother of Tschudy, Miguel Angel Rivera Rios said, “My sister was a wonderful human. She graduated from Roberts Wesleyan University with a master’s in social work. She loved to protect children with a passion. This is all I am gonna say.”

CNY Central reports that police searched throughout the night for David Huff after the shooting, spanning from his home on Roney Road to another home in North Syracuse. He was arrested around 9:30 a.m. in the Town of Onondaga after police got a tip from a community member.

In addition to one count of first-degree murder, David Huff is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and weapons charges. Syracuse Police are still investigating and are asking anyone with information to call them at (315) 442-5222.