Mon | Oct 6, 2025

J’can family stabbed to death in Queens home by relative

Published:Monday | December 4, 2023 | 12:12 AMLester Hinds/Gleaner Writer
This photo provided by New York City Police Dept. shows a knife recovered at a crime scene in the Far Rockaway section of the Queens borough of New York on Sunday. A man killed four relatives, including two children, in a knife attack at their New York Cit
Contributed
This photo provided by New York City Police Dept. shows a knife recovered at a crime scene in the Far Rockaway section of the Queens borough of New York on Sunday. A man killed four relatives, including two children, in a knife attack at their New York City home early Sunday, then set the building on fire and stabbed two police officers before one of them fatally shot him, officials said.

A Jamaican family of four, including two children ages 11 and 12, were stabbed to death in their Far Rockaway, Queens, home early Sunday morning by a relative who was shot and killed by responding police officers.

Courtney Gordon, the 38-year-old nephew of 61-year-old Christine Watson, who was injured in the incident, was shot dead by the police after they responded to a 911 call.

He was shot after slashing one policeman and stabbing another.

Police reports are that one of the responding officers managed to pull his firearm and shot Gordon, who had been leaving the house with a bag when he attacked the officers as they stopped him for questioning.

Reports further indicated that the other police officers who responded to the scene were unable to enter the home as fire had been set to a couch in the living room.

The fire department responded and put out the blaze. On entering the home, police found the 11-year-old girl and 12-year-old boy stabbed to death.

Also stabbed and killed was a 44-year-old woman and a man in his 30s. None of them had up to press time been officially identified.

Watson was taken to hospital.

Gordon had previously faced domestic violence charges in the Bronx.

The New York Daily News reported that his sister told the newspaper that he was taken in to the Far Rockaway home by his aunt after he had become homeless.

Reports reaching The Gleaner are that the police had been called to the home on a number of occasions due to disturbances there.