A tragic and horrifying attack unfolded in Brooklyn on Sunday morning, as police responded to an emergency call from an 11-year-old girl who had hidden herself away from a violent assault.
The girl told 911 operators that her uncle was stabbing her and her siblings inside their home. When the police arrived at the scene, they found a gruesome and chaotic scene, with blood splattered across the apartment’s walls and floors.
Around 10:15 a.m., officers quickly raced to the location in Bensonhurst after the child’s call was traced. The girl had been unable to provide her exact address but, thanks to technology, police were able to pinpoint her location.
The rapid response of the officers likely saved the lives of the young girls.
Upon arriving at the apartment, police discovered the attacker, a 49-year-old man, wielding a blood-covered meat cleaver.
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He allegedly ignored officers’ repeated commands to drop the weapon and advanced toward them, prompting the officers to open fire. They shot the suspect multiple times, ending the immediate threat.
The man, later identified as the girls’ uncle, was rushed to Maimonides Medical Center in critical condition. He was said to have a history of mental illness, according to family members.
The four young sisters, aged 8, 11, 13, and 16, were also taken to the hospital with serious stab and slash wounds but are expected to survive.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and detectives are still investigating. The mother of the children was not home at the time of the assault.
Fortunately, quick thinking from the 11-year-old and the swift actions of law enforcement helped to prevent even worse tragedy.
