Man Kills Four Relatives, Including Two Children, in New York Knife Attack

NEW YORK: In a horrifying incident, a man went on a rampage, killing four of his relatives, including two children, in a knife attack at their home in New York City. The assailant then set the building on fire and stabbed two police officers before being shot dead by one of them. The incident took place in the early hours of Sunday morning in Far Rockaway, a seaside section of Queens.

The New York Police Department received a distress call at approximately 5:10 a.m. from a young female who reported that her cousin was attacking her family. NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey provided details of the incident during a morning news briefing.

Upon arriving at the scene, the officers encountered a man leaving the area with luggage. Within seconds, the man drew a knife and launched a vicious attack on the officers. One of the officers sustained stab wounds to the neck and chest, while the other was slashed in the head. In self-defense, one of the officers shot the assailant, later identified as 38-year-old Courtney Gordon, who had been visiting the family from his home in the Bronx.

Tragically, an 11-year-old girl was found outside the house and rushed to the hospital, where she succumbed to her stab wounds. The officers were initially unable to enter the home due to a raging fire that had engulfed the living room and foyer. However, once inside, they discovered three more victims who had been fatally stabbed: a 12-year-old boy, a 44-year-old woman, and a man in his 30s. Another woman, aged 61, was found gravely injured and is currently in critical condition with multiple stab wounds.

The identities of the victims have not been released at this time. The motive behind the attack remains unknown, and the investigation is ongoing. The incident has left the community in shock and mourning.

This tragic incident comes just a week after another knife rampage in the Bronx, where a college student, who claimed to be hearing voices, killed his father, his 5-year-old half-brother, and the boy’s mother.

The head of the New York Police Department’s police union, Patrick Hendry, expressed his admiration for the officer who bravely stopped the assailant despite being stabbed. He described the scene as chaotic, with multiple victims, a burning house, and a man on a rampage.

The incident highlights the urgent need for improved mental health support and measures to prevent such acts of violence. The community is grappling with the devastating loss of innocent lives and will undoubtedly come together to support the grieving families affected by this senseless tragedy.