FAR ROCKAWAY, Queens – A tragic and violent incident in Far Rockaway, Queens on Sunday morning shocked the neighborhood. According to police, a man stabbed four family members to death, including two children, before attacking two responding officers.
Neighbors on Beach 22nd Street were woken by the sound of gunshots early in the morning, only to discover a horrific crime scene. A girl called 911, reporting that her cousin had stabbed and killed her family members. One neighbor recounted seeing the girl running outside, barefoot and in distress.
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Courtney Gordon of the Bronx, was visiting family at the Far Rockaway home. When two officers engaged him in conversation at the end of the driveway, he attacked them with a knife, slashing one officer in the neck and the other in the head. A 28-year veteran officer shot and killed Gordon in defense.
Unfortunately, the violence didn’t end there. Inside the home, police found an 11-year-old girl, a 12-year-old boy, a 44-year-old woman, and a man in his 30s – all dead due to stab wounds. Additionally, a 61-year-old woman with stab wounds was found and rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
The tragedy deeply affected neighbors, with one resident recalling hearing an argument outside the home the night before. Another neighbor expressed heartbreak over the terrible events, especially the loss of innocent young lives.
As investigators worked to understand the motives behind the violent rampage, news emerged of Gordon’s prior arrest for strangling someone in a domestic incident in the Bronx. The tragic events led to an outpouring of support from the local community, with police officers showing solidarity and concern for their injured colleagues.
Amidst the sorrow and shock, the neighborhood mourned the loss of innocent lives and continued to grapple with the aftermath of the violent incident. The investigation into the tragic events in Far Rockaway, Queens is ongoing, with the community seeking answers and solace in the wake of this devastating ordeal.