This tragic incident took place early on a Sunday morning in the Far Rockaway neighborhood of Queens, New York City. The New York Police Department reported a horrifying situation where a suspect, later identified as 38-year-old Courtney Gordon, allegedly went on a deadly rampage in a residence.
The violence began around 5 a.m. when police received a distress call from a young girl stating that her cousin was attacking her family members.
Two experienced NYPD officers, one with 28 years of service and the other with 16, arrived first at the scene on Beach 22nd Street. They encountered Gordon in the driveway, carrying luggage from the house.
When they attempted to question him, he reportedly attacked them with a kitchen knife, injuring both officers – one slashed in the face and neck area, the other sustaining a head injury. Despite their wounds, one of the officers managed to shoot and kill Gordon, effectively halting the attack.
The officers, whose names have not been disclosed, were taken to Jamaica Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. As other officers arrived, they found an 11-year-old girl, stabbed outside the front door, who was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
The suspect had allegedly set fire to a couch in the living room, delaying immediate entry into the house. Once inside, officers found three more victims fatally stabbed in two back bedrooms, including a 12-year-old boy.
A 61-year-old woman was also discovered inside, critically injured from stab wounds and transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in Queens.
The other fatalities included a 44-year-old woman and a man in his 30s. The names of these victims are being withheld until their families are notified.
Police believe the victims were related to Gordon, who resided in the Bronx and was visiting relatives in Queens at the time of the incident.
The motive for this devastating attack is still under investigation. Patrick Henry, President of the New York City Police Benevolent Association, commended the injured officers for their bravery and skill in handling such a chaotic and dangerous situation, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of police work and the potential outcomes had the officers not been present.
