BENSONHURST, Brooklyn (PIX11) -- A tranquil Sunday morning in Bensonhurst was disrupted by an act of violence when a man stabbed multiple members of his own family.
An 11-year-old girl called police, saying she and her siblings had been stabbed by her uncle, according to the NYPD. She didn't know her address, but authorities were able to track down the location.
An 11-year-old boy who was not injured ran out and alerted a neighbor. Officers arrived within minutes and acted quickly, contributing to all four victims expected to survive. The victims, all girls, are ages 16, 13, 11, and 8.
“It’s devastating, devastating, I feel like crying because little kids got hurt,” said Gigi Safee.
“All had serious slash and stab wounds,” stated NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
According to authorities, NYPD officers arrived at 1671 84th Street within minutes of getting a 911 call at 10:15. They were let into the first-floor vestibule by an uninjured child.
“At that point, they heard screams coming from behind the door to the left and immediately began forcing their way into the apartment,” said Tisch, adding that once they entered, “they encountered a man standing near the entrance holding a meat cleaver covered in blood and they could see blood on the floor, and the walls of the home.”
Tisch also stated that the officers ordered the man to drop the weapon several times, but he refused to and advanced towards them. Two officers discharged their weapons and fired at him 7 times. He was taken to Maimonides Hospital in critical condition.
“I saw some guy shirtless, all bloody, coming out on the stretcher and was lying on the stretcher handcuffed, his eyes were rolled back, no movement,” said area neighbor Humberto Huerta.
The attacker has been identified as 49-year-old Lu Chang Chang. Officials did confirm that there is no history of domestic violence at this location; however, “according to family members, Chang does have a history of mental illness.”
“People do not think that mental health crises or crimes are part of this community life. When families are insecure and impacted, nobody is safe," said Ling Ye, who also lives in the area.
A second bloody knife was found by NYPD officers in a separate room. Police did not confirm if the attacker lives here.
“Unbelievable, it is just, sad, it is heartbreaking,” added Safee.
And even though this family has been devastated, and this community is in disbelief, fortunately, none of the victims’ lives were lost.
“Their fast, decisive action, pinpointing location and taking down the door, absolutely saved the lives of these young girls,” concluded Tisch.
NYPD Commissioner Tisch says that the officers' bodycam captured the encounter, including when they opened fire at the attacker. What led this man to attack the girl? That’s part of the investigation, which remains ongoing.
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