Questions remain unanswered after the death of an 8-year-old in a stabbing in Queens

JAMAICA, Queens (PIX11) – Questions remain as to why a 20-year-old man allegedly committed a stabbing in Queens on Thursday.

The incident occurred around 5:15 p.m. in an apartment on the corner of 94th Avenue and Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica, police said.

The 20-year-old allegedly stabbed his 8-year-old half-brother to death before using the same knife on his father and stepmother, police said. Police eventually shot the 20-year-old when he allegedly refused to drop the knife.

Police are still collecting evidence in the house where the tragedy occurred.

The family had actually planned to leave for an Independence Day celebration on Thursday. Instead, the mother and father came to their apartment and found their 8-year-old bleeding from numerous stab wounds.

According to police, the eight-year-old’s half-brother went on a rampage with a butcher’s knife and allegedly stabbed his mother in the back.

A surveillance video obtained by PIX11 News shows the mother running down the street bleeding and begging for help. Meanwhile, the father in the apartment tries to snatch the knife from his 20-year-old son, but is unsuccessful.

When officers arrived, they ordered the son to put down the knife, but he allegedly refused, prompting one of the officers to fire his weapon, police said. The 20-year-old was later pronounced dead at a hospital, police said.

Police believe the incident began as a domestic dispute that quickly escalated. The family is now mourning the deaths of their two sons, who died within a matter of hours.

A little girl was also in the apartment during the incident, but she was not injured, police said.

Police have not disclosed the identities of the affected family members.