NEW YORK, NY — Far Rockaway, Queens was the scene of a violent rampage on Sunday morning. Police reported that a man stabbed his own family to death, killing four people, including two children, before attacking two responding officers.
According to neighbors, the violent chain of events led to a crime scene on Beach 22nd Street, with the sound of gunshots ringing out just after 5 a.m. One neighboring witness recounted seeing a girl running barefoot, seeking help after her family members had been killed.
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Courtney Gordon of the Bronx, was visiting family at the Far Rockaway home. The responding officers engaged in a brief conversation with Gordon before he suddenly attacked them with a knife, injuring both officers. One officer, a 28-year veteran, was forced to fatally shoot Gordon in self-defense.
Inside the home, the 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 with stab wounds. They also discovered a 61-year-old woman with stab wounds who was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Additionally, Gordon set a couch by the front door on fire before exiting the home.
Amidst the tragedy, neighbors expressed shock and heartbreak over the events, with one neighbor recalling hearing intense arguing outside the home the night before. The community was deeply impacted by the loss, especially considering the fact that children from the area often played with the two young victims.
Gordon had one prior arrest prior to this incident for strangling someone in a domestic incident in the Bronx.
As police officers remained on scene into the evening, others gathered outside the hospital to show support for the injured officers, indicating a strong sense of camaraderie within the force. Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association, emphasized the bravery and sacrifice of the officers, acknowledging the difficult day and the tragic loss of so many lives.
The 61-year-old woman who was also stabbed remains in critical condition, while the second officer is recovering from a laceration to his face. This devastating event has left the community in mourning and the authorities grappling with the aftermath of the violent rampage in Far Rockaway.