Fatal Stabbing Rampage in New York City Leaves Four Dead, Including Two Children

In a shocking and tragic incident, at least four people, including two children aged 11 and 12, were fatally stabbed early Sunday in a home in New York City. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Courtney Gordon, went on a rampage, allegedly setting fire to the couch in the residence and attacking two police officers with a kitchen knife before being shot to death.

The horrifying incident took place in the Far Rockaway neighborhood of Queens, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD). Two experienced police officers responded to a disturbance call and were ambushed by the assailant in the driveway of the house. The officers noticed Gordon carrying luggage from the residence, which immediately raised their suspicion.

As the officers approached Gordon for questioning, he nodded and launched a sudden attack on them with a typical kitchen knife. One officer sustained a deep slash to the face, while the other suffered a cut to the head. Despite their injuries, one of the officers, a 28-year veteran of the force, managed to draw his weapon and fire at the suspect, bringing an end to the violent assault, as per preliminary findings by the NYPD.

Reflecting on the chaotic scene, Patrick Henry, president of the New York City Police Benevolent Association, emphasized the unpredictable nature of police work. He stated during a news conference, “This shows that police officers never know what they’re responding to, what’s waiting for them on that scene. This scene was chaos, multiple victims, a house on fire, and a madman on a rampage, on a mission.”

Courtney Gordon, the suspect responsible for the horrifying attack, had a prior arrest related to a domestic violence incident involving strangulation in the Bronx. The NYPD Chief of Detectives, Joseph Kenny, provided this information about the assailant.

The tragic events unfolded around 5 a.m. when the police received a distressing 911 call from a young female, who reported that her cousin was killing her family members. The responding officers, one with 28 years of service and the other with 16 years, arrived at the scene on Beach 22nd Street and noticed a man, later identified as Gordon, carrying luggage in the driveway.

Without warning, Gordon attacked the officers with a knife, inflicting severe injuries. Despite being wounded, the veteran officer managed to draw his weapon and defend himself and his colleague by shooting the perpetrator, effectively stopping the attack, as explained by NYPD Chief of Department Jeff Maddrey.

The two wounded officers, whose identities have not been released, were transported to Jamaica Hospital in Queens, where they received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, according to Maddrey.

Upon further investigation, officers discovered an 11-year-old girl who had been stabbed outside the front door of the residence. Tragically, she was pronounced dead after being rushed to a hospital. Due to a fire that had broken out in the living room, officers initially faced difficulty entering the house.

Maddrey revealed, “It seems that he, the suspect, lit the couch at the front of the location on fire as he was leaving.” The New York City Fire Department promptly responded to the scene and extinguished the blaze. As officers finally gained access to the residence, they discovered three lifeless bodies in two back bedrooms. One of the victims was a 12-year-old boy, and a 61-year-old woman was found critically injured and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in Queens.

The victims’ names are being withheld by the police until their relatives have been notified. Maddrey stated that investigators believe the victims and the assailant are related.

Gordon, a resident of the Bronx, was visiting his relatives in Queens when the horrific rampage occurred. The motive behind the attack remains under investigation.

Commending the bravery and skill of the injured officers, Patrick Henry, the president of the police union, praised the veteran officer who fatally shot the attacker. He stated, “Imagine what could have happened if these police officers weren’t there.”