A suspect has been arrested after a 43-year-old mother was beaten to death and her young children severely injured in a hammer attack in their Brooklyn apartment.
All three victims were rushed to Lutheran Hospital by ambulance, but the mother did not survive. The children, a 3-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy, were still in critical condition, WNBC said.
Police identified the suspect as Liyong Ye, 47, and said he has been charged with murder, attempted murder, assault and weapons possession, according to the New York Daily News. Ye had no criminal records, and police don’t yet know the motive.
Police said the mother, identified as 43-year-old Zhao Zhao, and Ye got into an argument inside the 2nd floor apartment before the man bludgeoned her and the children. Investigators called the attack “brutal.”
New York Police Chief of Patrol John Chell said the man and his 9-year-old son lived in one room in the apartment, and the mother and her children lived in another room, WABC said. Police don’t believe they were related. The Daily News said a third roommate also lives in the apartment.
Chell said the suspect was taken into custody as he exited the building covered in blood, Fox News said. The hammer was recovered.
The chief said the two children are fighting for their lives.
“I think I can speak for all the officers when I can say our community, our prayers are with this family at this time,” Chell said.
According to the Daily News, New York state Sen. Iwen Chu said that Ye called the third roommate and told him to “come pick up my son.” The roommate found the bloodied bodies when he arrived and called 911.
According to Chu, Zhao’s husband lives out of state, where he works, and visits once a month. The senator said it’s a common arrangement for immigrant families.
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[Featured image: NY Police hold a news conference about the hammer attack that killed a Brooklyn mother and critically injured her children. One of the officers holds a photograph of the hammer/WNBC screenshot]
