On July 4th (Thursday) afternoon, a police officer in Queens, Jamaica, New York, shot and killed a man suspected of stabbing an 8-year-old boy, according to the New York City Police Department.
The police indicated that the stabbing incident involving the boy may have stemmed from a family dispute, but specific details are still unclear. Authorities mentioned that the 20-year-old suspect and the 8-year-old boy victim may be siblings or stepbrothers.
The incident took place inside an apartment building on 94th Avenue in Jamaica. Around 5:20 pm, a 29-year-old woman with a stab wound to her back ran out to the street seeking help from the MTA police. At the same time, the security desk inside the building called 911.
Police arrived at the scene within three minutes. When officers entered the apartment, they found the suspect holding a knife at his 43-year-old father. Reportedly, the suspect refused multiple commands to drop the knife, and a police officer subsequently fired a shot that hit the suspect. The suspect was taken to a local hospital but did not survive.
The 8-year-old boy died, while the 29-year-old mother and 43-year-old father sustained stab wounds. The exact cause of death of the 8-year-old boy cannot be confirmed at the moment as investigators await further results. The mother was stabbed multiple times before seeking help.
According to police, there was also an 8-month-old baby inside the apartment at the time of the incident, but the infant was unharmed.
The police body camera captured the shooting process. The 29-year-old woman and the 43-year-old man were both taken to a local hospital for treatment. It is expected that both individuals will recover. The investigation is still ongoing.