8-year-old stabbed to death in Queens, knife-wielding suspect shot dead by police

NEW YORK — A police officer shot and killed a man who allegedly stabbed an 8-year-old boy to death in Queens on Thursday, the New York City Police Department said.

The stabbing likely stemmed from a domestic dispute, police said, but details remain unclear. Police said the 20-year-old suspect and the 8-year-old victim may be brothers or half-brothers. No names were immediately released.

The incident happened at an apartment building on 94th Avenue in the Jamaica neighborhood. Around 5:20 p.m., police said, a 29-year-old woman who had been stabbed in the back left the building and ran down the street to MTA police for help. At the same time, building security called 911.

Officers responded within three minutes and went to a fifth-floor apartment after speaking to a witness, police said.

Police said when officers entered the apartment, they found the suspect holding his 43-year-old father at knifepoint.

“They were confronted by our attacker who had his father in a headlock with a knife to his throat,” NYPD Patrol Chief John Chell said.

The suspect allegedly refused to obey multiple commands to drop the knife, and an officer fired a bullet, hitting the suspect, police said. Officers immediately rendered aid to the suspect and he was taken to an area hospital, where he died.

According to police, an 8-month-old baby was also in the apartment at the time of the incident, but was not injured.

“I just remind them what life is like as a New York City police officer, what they have to deal with and the decisions they have to make quickly. And in making those decisions, they saved two lives tonight,” Chell said.

Footage of the shooting was captured by police body cameras.

Police said the 29-year-old woman and 43-year-old man were both taken to area hospitals to be treated for their injuries. They are both expected to survive.

The investigation is ongoing.