Daijiworld Media Network – New York
New York, Apr 7: A 49-year-old man was shot and critically injured by police in Brooklyn on Sunday after allegedly stabbing four young girls, believed to be his nieces, in a shocking incident that left a New York City apartment soaked in blood.
According to NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch, officers rushed to the Bensonhurst apartment after receiving a frantic 911 call from an 11-year-old girl, who bravely hid in a bedroom during the attack and called for help, saying she and her siblings had been stabbed by their uncle.
The child didn’t know her exact address, but quick-thinking officers traced the phone and reached the location within minutes. Upon arrival, they were guided into the building by a young boy from the family who had fled for help.
“When officers entered the apartment, they found a horrific scene. The walls and floor were spattered with blood. A man was standing near the entrance holding a blood-covered meat cleaver,” Tisch said at a press briefing outside the home.
Despite repeated commands to drop the weapon, the man allegedly stepped toward the officers, prompting them to fire seven rounds, striking him and ending the threat.
The suspect was rushed to Maimonides Medical Center in critical condition. The four victims sisters aged 8, 11, 13, and 16 also suffered serious stab and slash injuries and were admitted to the same hospital. Doctors have confirmed that all four are expected to survive.
NYPD chief of department John Chell said the children's mother was not at home during the incident. The suspect, reportedly suffering from mental illness, was known to reside at the apartment but had no prior record of police complaints.
Police recovered a second bloodied kitchen knife from the scene. Bodycam footage of the police shooting is currently under review. The motive behind the brutal attack remains under investigation.