Multiple Fatal Stabbings, Including Two Children, in New York City Home

In a horrifying incident that unfolded in the early hours of Sunday, at least four people, including two children aged 11 and 12, were tragically stabbed to death in a residence in New York City. The suspect, who authorities allege went on a “rampage,” also set fire to a couch in the house and attacked two police officers with a kitchen knife before being shot dead.

The stabbing spree occurred in the Far Rockaway neighborhood of Queens, according to the New York Police Department. Responding to a disturbance call, two seasoned police officers approached the residence and were viciously attacked by the alleged assailant in the driveway. The officers had noticed the suspect carrying luggage from the house, which raised their suspicions, leading to the tragic turn of events.

During the altercation, one officer endured slashes to the face while the other suffered a head injury, before one of them resorted to using lethal force, fatally shooting the suspect. The preliminary investigation conducted by the NYPD revealed that the scene was chaotic, with multiple victims, a house on fire, and a disturbed individual on a violent mission.

The suspect has been identified as 38-year-old Courtney Gordon, who had a prior arrest related to a domestic violence incident involving strangulation in the Bronx. The devastating incident occurred shortly after 5 a.m., when the police received an alarming 911 call from a young girl reporting that her cousin was killing their family members. Authorities have classified the incident as a domestic violence case.

Chief of Department Jeff Maddrey disclosed that the first officers to arrive at the scene were a 28-year veteran and a 16-year veteran of the NYPD. They encountered a man, later identified as Gordon, in the residence’s driveway, where they initiated questioning. However, the situation rapidly escalated as the suspect violently attacked the officers with a common kitchen knife, causing severe injuries.

Despite sustaining wounds, the veteran officer managed to draw his firearm and successfully neutralize the perpetrator, effectively ending the assault. The injured officers were promptly transported to Jamaica Hospital in Queens, where they received medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

Upon further investigation, officers discovered an 11-year-old girl outside the front door of the residence, having suffered stab wounds. Tragically, she was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital. Due to a fire in the living room, officers were initially unable to enter the house. It is believed that the suspect intentionally ignited the couch as he fled the scene, obstructing immediate access to the residence.

The New York City Fire Department promptly arrived and extinguished the flames, enabling officers to enter the premises. Within the house, three additional victims were discovered in two separate bedrooms. Among them was a 12-year-old boy who had also succumbed to stab wounds. A 61-year-old woman was found critically injured and immediately transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in Queens.

Authorities have withheld the names of the victims pending notification of their relatives. Chief Maddrey stated that the police believe the victims and the suspect were related. The alleged perpetrator, Gordon, resided in the Bronx but was visiting his relatives in Queens at the time of the rampage.

The motive behind this horrifying attack remains under investigation. Patrick Henry, the president of the New York City Police Benevolent Association, commended the courage and skill displayed by the injured officers, especially the veteran officer who successfully eliminated the threat despite sustaining injuries himself. Henry emphasized the importance of law enforcement in such unpredictable situations and highlighted the potential for even greater tragedy had the officers not been present.