NEW YORK _ A triple murder-suicide in Queens may have been sparked by a bitter custody battle across two continents, sources said Tuesday.
James Shields, 39, is suspected of fatally shooting his wife, ex-wife and 6-year-old son before taking his own life inside his first-floor apartment in Astoria, sources said.
Shields was found with a gunshot wound to the head, a black semi-automatic pistol lying nearby, sources said.
The three other victims were also discovered in the apartment living room just before 9 p.m. Monday.
Shields had recently posted a heated appeal for money on GoFundMe complaining that a nasty custody fight with his Dutch ex-wife had ruined his life.
"Due to my ex's extreme jealousy and bitterness she is dragging me through court case after court case to be spiteful," he wrote in the post titled "Child Kidnapping."
"In the Netherlands, the government pays for all legal expenses, so she's enjoying this as it drags on and on ruining me," he added.
Shields, a physical therapist, claimed his ex only wanted their son in the U.S. for two weeks a year.
"This is devastating my family and I," he wrote. "The financial stress of this is destroying my current marriage and life. How do I choose between financially ruining my current relationship vs giving up the battle for my son?"
He added, "I had the perfect life a few years ago but it has spiraled out of control and I desperately need any help you can provide."
The fundraising campaign, started three months ago, attracted no donors.
Shields' father, James Shields Sr., confirmed his son's custody battle Tuesday morning when he showed up at the crime scene.
He was taken away by detectives for questioning.
Shields ex-wife was planning to take their 6-year-old to the Netherlands next week, but the Shields Sr. never thought his son's custody dispute would turn violent.
"He never talked to me much," Shields Sr. said. "He kept everything a secret."
"He's a good man, a good boy," the father added.
Shields Sr. described his grandson as "a beautiful boy."
Cops initially went to the apartment for a 911 call of a man bleeding. They discovered the bodies of all four victims.
Neighbors recalled hearing yelling from the apartment.
"It would seem like it was a frequent thing," neighbor Ellie Alvarado said. "Different times of day, there was some kind of yelling coming from the apartment."
On Monday night, NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea hinted that police had been called to the address in the past to quell domestic arguments.
"There are calls that we believe are going to be related to that building, but it's a little preliminary," he said.
A police source on Tuesday confirmed at least one call to Shields' Astoria home last year for a domestic disturbance.
