Tragedy Unfolds in Queens: Stabbing Rampage Claims Four Lives, Including Two Children
In a horrifying incident that shook the Far Rockaway neighborhood of Queens, New York, four people, including two children, lost their lives, and three others sustained injuries during a stabbing spree.
The grim incident unfolded in the early hours of Sunday when the police responded to a distressing 911 call at 05:10 local time (10:10 GMT). The caller, identified as a young female, reported that her cousin was attacking family members.
Upon arriving at the scene on Beach 22nd Street, authorities discovered a residence engulfed in flames. Two police officers encountered a male suspect leaving the premises with luggage. Attempts to engage with the individual took a violent turn when he brandished a knife, stabbing one officer in the neck and chest and another in the head. In self-defense, one of the officers discharged his firearm, ultimately fatally shooting the suspect.
Further investigation revealed additional victims within the residence. An 11-year-old girl was found at the front of the house and rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries. Inside the dwelling, emergency services discovered the lifeless bodies of a 12-year-old boy, a 44-year-old female, and a male in his 30s. A 61-year-old female, bearing multiple stab wounds, was also transported to Mount Sinai Hospital for treatment.
The suspect was identified as 39-year-old Courtney Gordon, who had a prior arrest record for domestic violence in the Bronx. Gordon, visiting his family in Queens at the time, was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.
A kitchen steak knife believed to be the weapon used in the attacks was recovered from the crime scene. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities conducting interviews, including that of the initial 911 caller, to piece together the details surrounding this tragic event.
Four killed including two children, and two police officers injured after stabbing attack in Queens, New York https://t.co/fPKtTN0Dme
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 3, 2023