NORTHAMPTON, N.Y. (TCN) — Police fatally shot a 28-year-old man while he was allegedly stabbing his disabled mother, authorities say.
On the afternoon of Mother’s Day, May 10, a woman called 911 to say her son was drunk inside the home and was behaving violently, the Riverhead News-Review reports. While officers were en route, the woman called again to say that her son was now threatening her with a knife.
When authorities arrived, they saw Steven Eastwood allegedly standing over his 62-year-old mother in her wheelchair while holding a knife, the News-Review reports. A responding officer ordered him to drop the weapon, but instead he allegedly advanced toward them while holding the knife.
According to Southampton Town Police Chief James Kiernan, the officer stepped backward to de-escalate the situation. Eastwood then allegedly returned to his mother and began stabbing her again. The News-Review reports Kiernan said, “Within moments, he refocused his attention on the victim and returned to her and was actively stabbing and slashing at her body.” Officers then shot Eastwood and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim, whose name has not been released, was transported to the hospital for treatment of more than 40 stab and slash wounds. WABC reports she underwent emergency surgery.
At a press briefing, Kiernan said police have responded to the victim’s address a number of times over the years for domestic violence incidents, the New York Post reports. The victim had previously had an order of protection against Eastwood, but it was reportedly no longer active, according to Kiernan. The victim has triplet sons, one of which was Eastwood, and two of them had known mental health issues.
A motive has not been released, and the investigation is active.
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