In a devastating incident in Queens, New York, a man stabbed four of his family members to death and injured two police officers before being shot and killed by authorities. The New York Police Department responded to a call from a teenage girl who reported that her cousin was killing her family members. Officers quickly arrived at a multi-family home on Beach 22nd Street to confront the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Courtney Gordon. As the officers approached Gordon, he attempted to flee with luggage but turned violent, stabbing one officer in the neck/chest area and striking another officer in the head.
The situation escalated further when Gordon set a fire inside the home, causing the police to wait for the fire department to arrive and extinguish the flames. Once inside, officers discovered five individuals who had been stabbed. Tragically, four of them, including a 12-year-old boy, a man in his 30s, and a 44-year-old woman, succumbed to their injuries. An 11-year-old girl was found injured and transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased. A 61-year-old woman was also in critical condition and taken to a local hospital.
The two injured officers, in critical but stable condition, were rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for treatment. Gordon, the suspect, was also transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The identities of the victims have not been released, but the police believe they were all related to one another.
The incident highlights the unpredictable and dangerous nature of police work. “This shows that police officers never know what they’re responding to, what’s awaiting them on that scene. This scene was chaos; multiple victims, a house on fire and a madman on a rampage, on a mission,” said Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry during a press conference.
This tragic event has shocked the local community and serves as a reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face daily while protecting the public. The investigation into the motive behind the attack is ongoing, and authorities are working to provide support to the affected families during this difficult time.
