QUEENS, NY – A man gruesomely murdered four of his family members, two of them aged 11 and 12, using a steak knife, then set their Queens residence on fire, injuring two responding officers before being fatally shot by police early Sunday morning.
At around 5:10 a.m. Sunday, a frantic 911 call was received from a teenage girl reporting her cousin was killing their family at their home located at 467 Beach 22nd Street in Far Rockaway. The girl managed to escape the horrific scene by jumping from a window.
Upon arrival at the scene, police were confronted by the assailant, identified as 38-year-old Courtney Gordon. Gordon, who was leaving the home with luggage, attacked the officers, slashing one in the face and the other in the neck. Gordon engaged the officers in a brief encounter before drawing a knife on them, as revealed by NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey at a press briefing.
An officer with 28 years of service shot and killed Gordon in response to the attack. Before fleeing the home, Gordon allegedly set a couch on fire, hindering police from immediately entering the house.
Gordon, arrested less than a year ago for domestic violence, brutally committed the killings using a household steak knife. Although a Bronx resident, Gordon was visiting his family in Queens at the time of the tragedy. Among Gordon’s victims was a critically injured 61-year-old woman, who was rushed to the hospital. Police said all the victims appeared to be related.
The incident rattled the local community, with neighbors sharing they had heard gunshots. Area resident Isaac Ferguson expressed concern about an increasing trend of ultra-violence in the community.
Police union officials commended the officers involved for successfully handling the chaotic incident. The incident and the fire are currently under investigation by relevant departments.