A horrific stabbing spree left five people dead inside their Queens, New York home on Sunday.
NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey said at a press conference held at Jamaica Hospital on Sunday, “We received a frantic 911 call at around 5:10 a.m. of an assault in progress, where a young woman stated that her cousin was killing her family members.”
“A 28-year veteran and a 16-year veteran of the force responded to the scene and had an encounter with 38-year-old Courtney Gordon,” Maddrey added. “As they get to the driveway, they see a male walking out. He’s carrying luggage. The officers asked the male a question or two, an encounter that lasted about 10 seconds, where the male draws a knife on our officers. He stabs one officer in the neck/chest area and strikes the second officer in the head.”
According to Maddrey, the 28-year veteran officer was able to draw his firearm and discharge his weapon to stop the assault.
The two officers were rushed to a local hospital, as was Gordon, who was pronounced dead on arrival.
After, other officers arrived at the home, they discovered an 11-year old girl lying at the front of the home, dead from her injuries.
The officers were unable to enter the home due to a fire that was inside the living room and foyer. Once the New York Fire Department was able to put out the fire, they removed another family member from the home to transport them to the hospital.
Once the officers were able to fully enter the home, they discovered three more victims, who were all pronounced dead at the scene.
“We believe everyone who is dead, the family members, the four family members, were all because of stab wounds,” Maddrey said. The police chief emphasized that an investigation remains ongoing and noted that the knife that was used to injure the officers was the only weapon recovered at the scene.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Gordon was at the home visiting family and had one prior arrest for a domestic violence incident that took place in the Bronx.
While authorities have not discovered a motive behind Gordon’s actions, Kenny explained that the 911 caller is being interviewed at the police station and may be able to shed some light into what occurred.
The identities of the victims were not released; however, Kenny noted that the injured individual at the hospital is a 61-year-old female. The three deceased individuals found inside the home include a 44-year-old female, a 12-year-old boy, and a male in his 30s.
Kenny also stated that the two officers that were stabbed were recovering well from their injuries.
When they say “life is short”. This is what it means, you never know what lies down the road. All these lives gone in the skip of a heart beat. So, so sad. My heart goes out to the remaining family members. There is not much to say. The grief you will have to deal with be enormous. Take comfort in each other.