By Tiffany Williams –
A man brandishing a meat cleaver violently attacked four children in a Brooklyn home on Sunday, prompting police to respond after one of the young victims managed to call 911 for help, according to authorities.
The four children, who are believed to be siblings, sustained serious injuries during the brutal attack but are expected to survive. The suspect, a 49-year-old relative who reportedly resided in the home, unleashed a torrent of violence for reasons that remain unclear. At the time of the incident, their mother was out of the house.
In a harrowing moment, an injured 11-year-old girl, who was hiding in a room, called 911 shortly after 10:15 a.m. She bravely reported that her uncle had attacked them, while an uninjured boy sprinted outside to alert neighbors.
Despite her distress, the 11-year-old girl was unable to provide her address, but the 911 call center utilized advanced technology to pinpoint her location and quickly dispatched officers to the scene on 84th Street in the Bensonhurst neighborhood.
Upon arrival, an uninjured boy ushered police into the home’s first floor, guiding them to a small vestibule flanked by two doors. As officers approached, they heard anguished screams emanating from behind one door and swiftly began forcing entry. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that officers kicked down the door to gain access.
Once inside, the officers encountered a shocking scene: the suspect stood menacingly near the entrance, gripping a large meat cleaver that was splattered with blood. Blood was also visible on the floor and walls of the hallway. Tisch reported that officers ordered the man to drop the weapon multiple times, but he obstinately advanced towards them. In response, two officers discharged their weapons, firing a total of seven rounds and striking the man.
The police-involved shooting was recorded on body-worn camera footage, providing a record of the tense encounter.
Inside the apartment, the officers discovered four girls, aged between 8 and 16, each suffering from serious stab and slash wounds. First responders promptly administered emergency medical care before transporting the victims to Maimonides Hospital.
The suspect, who was also taken to the hospital, is in critical condition.
At the scene, investigators recovered two knives, including the large meat cleaver that the man wielded when police arrived, as well as another bloody knife found in a separate room.
While the precise relationship between the suspect and the victims is still under investigation, authorities confirm that he is indeed related to them. Family members have disclosed that he has a troubling history of mental illness.