Authorities said that a 49-year-old man with a bloody meat cleaver, who was allegedly stabbing 4 young girls believed to be his relatives in their home, was shot by New York City Police officers and left critically injured.
At a press conference held outside the house where the attack took place, NYPD Police commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that two officers fired on the suspect attacker as they forced their entry into the home. He allegedly refused to obey repeated orders and continued walking toward the officers despite being told repeatedly to drop his bloody weapon.
Tisch said that officers arrived to find a “horrible scene” in which the walls and floor were covered with blood.
The commissioner stated that officers were called to the house when an 11-year-old girl who had been hiding in her bedroom during the attack dialed 911.
Tisch stated, “The 11-year-old caller said that she and her siblings were stabbed by the uncle.”
Tisch stated that the girl did not know her address, and police used technology to track the phone used by the child to call the location where the assault was taking place.
“The officers and EMS were at the door in minutes after the 911 call. The quick, decisive actions of the officers in locating the door and removing it saved the lives of these girls,” Tisch stated.
The incident unfolded around 10:15 a.m., Tisch said. She said that once the attack began, a young boy who is related to the family ran to a neighbor’s apartment to get help and let police into the building when they arrived.
Tisch stated that officers were standing outside the vestibule when they heard screaming coming from an adjacent apartment. She said that officers kicked the apartment door open.
Tisch stated, “Once they entered the house, they found a man holding a large meat knife covered in blood standing near the door. They could also see blood all over the floor and walls.”
She says the suspect was repeatedly told to drop his weapon.
Tisch stated, “He refused and advanced towards them. Two officers fired seven rounds in total between them to strike the subject and end the threat.”
Police said that the suspect was transported to Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, and was in a critical condition.
Tisch stated that the four victims, sisters aged 8, 11, 13, and 16, all had suffered severe slashing and stabbing injuries. The victims were taken to Maimonides, where they received treatment. All the victims are expected to survive.
The motive of the attack is still under investigation.
NYPD Department Chief John Chell stated that detectives are trying to confirm the relationship of the victims with the suspect. He stated that the mother of both children was not home at the moment of the attack.
Chell said that relatives of the suspect informed police he had a mental illness history and lived at the house where the attack took place.
He said that preliminary investigations show that NYPD has not received any previous requests for service at the address.
The police also recovered another kitchen knife that Tisch described as being covered in blood.
Tisch claimed that the shooting by police was captured on body cameras worn by police officers.
