QUEENS, N.Y. (TCD) — Five people, including the suspect and two juveniles, are deceased after a man reportedly fatally stabbed his relatives and lit a couch on fire.
In a press conference, Chief Jeff Maddrey said NYPD officers from the 101st Precinct responded to a call on East 22nd Street after a woman called to say her cousin was “killing her family.” Two officers arrived at the address and walked up the driveway when they encountered a man holding luggage. The officers, a 28-year veteran and a 16-year veteran of the department, spoke with the man for about 10 seconds before he pulled out a knife and stabbed them.
Maddrey said one officer was stabbed in the neck and the other in the head.
The 28-year veteran retrieved his gun and shot at the suspect “to stop the assault.”
Paramedics and backup arrived at the scene, and the two officers were taken to Jamaica Hospital. The suspect was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
The additional officers found an 11-year-old girl dead in front of the residence. Police, however, could not go into the home because the living room had been set on fire. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and were ultimately able to enter.
Earlier this morning, two officers from the @nypd101pct were injured in the line of duty when they engaged an armed man. This evening, they left the hospital to cheers & applause from their fellow Finest.
We wish them both a full & speedy recovery! pic.twitter.com/cfczv5wvMI
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 4, 2023
@NYPDnews
Once inside, they found a 61-year-old woman with stab wounds. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition. As they made their way through the house, officials found three more victims deceased from apparent stab wounds.
Chief of Detectives Joe Kenney said those victims were a 12-year-old boy, a 44-year-old female, and a male in his 30s. They were all discovered in a back bedroom. It appeared the suspect lit the living room couch on fire.
Kenney identified the suspect as 38-year-old Courtney Gordon. He lived in the Bronx and has one prior arrest for strangulation. The 911 caller was taken to the station for interviews.
Maddrey said investigators recovered the suspected weapon at the scene, which was a “typical kitchen steak knife.”
The NYPD shared a video of the two officers being escorted out of the hospital with officers clapping for them.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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