Queens, NY – A tragic stabbing left a 50-year-old woman dead and her 17-year-old son injured after a man allegedly attacked them inside a Smart Street home in a quiet Queens neighborhood, authorities said.
Horrific Scene Unfolds
Neighbors reported hearing screams just moments before the incident. Shi Quijin, 50, described as the “boss” of the household, was stabbed to death when her 27-year-old son-in-law allegedly launched the attack. During the assault, the suspect also stabbed Quijin’s teenage son in the face and armpit and set a mattress on fire.
“I heard a man screaming, not words, just ‘aaahh.’ Then I heard a woman say, ‘Call an ambulance,’ in English. I was surprised because they don’t speak English over there,” a neighbor told authorities.
Victims and Medical Response
Three individuals were rushed to NewYork Presbyterian Hospital. Shi Quijin succumbed to her injuries, while her 17-year-old son was listed in stable condition. The suspect was also hospitalized and is now in police custody.
No charges have been formally filed as the investigation continues, and the suspect has not been publicly identified.
Community Remembers the Victim
Neighbors described Quijin as a dedicated mother who spent hours maintaining her home and garden.
“I was very impressed with her. She was the boss of the house and worked on the property herself. It’s very sad,” said one neighbor, as per The Post.
Several extended family members, including Guqing Zhang, 20, and his sister Rouxin Lin, 16, were reportedly in the basement when the attack occurred. They rushed upstairs to find their aunt and cousin bleeding and panicked.
“Everyone was panicking… I went in and saw my aunt on the floor, not moving. Then they said there was a guy with a knife inside,” Zhang said.
Suspect’s Background and Possible Mental Health Crisis
Authorities said the 27-year-old suspect had been drinking before the attack, slit his own wrists, and had no prior arrests. He is reportedly going through a divorce.
Martha Flores Vasquez, a clinical psychologist, suggested that the suspect may have been experiencing a mental health crisis.
“Somebody is decompensated, mental health decompensation, and probably off his medication,” she explained.
“If a neighbor sees that somebody looks unstable, just by the look in their face, you have to call the police and report it.”
Investigation Ongoing
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack and the suspect’s motives. Residents remain in shock over the violent incident in an otherwise quiet Queens neighborhood.
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