By Phil Corso
Police shot and killed an enraged knife-wielding man Thursday night after he used the weapon to stab his wife and then himself, the NYPD said.
Crime tape and spattered blood were still visible at the scene Friday morning as cops said they were still investigating and looking for evidence involving an apparent domestic dispute near Cardozo High School in Oakland Gardens Thursday night that left a husband dead and his wife in critical condition.
According to police, officers responded to 911 calls around 8:30 p.m. about a 50-year-old suicidal man stabbing himself in the neck. When they arrived, officers said they found that the man had also stabbed his 51-year-old wife in the neck.
The man was shot in the arm and chest and killed by police in a courtyard outside his wife’s apartment at 61-47 223 Place after he refused to drop his knife, the NYPD said.
Both were taken to North Shore-LIJ Hospital in Manhasset, where the man was pronounced dead on arrival and his wife was listed in critical condition, police said.
Police recovered the knife from the scene.
It was unclear whether the man died from the gunshots or self-inflicted knife wounds, police said.
Danny Park, 48, has lived with his family in the upstairs apartment for four years. According to Park, the woman lived with her 17-year-old daughter in the downstairs apartment for almost 20 years. He said his neighbors were quiet and all of his passing encounters were friendly.
“I would say ‘hi’ to them all the time,” Park said. “They were always quiet and nice. They never had any problems with us.”
A nearby neighbor who lives on the other side of the courtyard said she heard what sounded like a firecracker early Thursday night, but did not think it was a gunshot. She said children often play in the area and she never would have guessed that there was a violent dispute across the courtyard.
“I was devastated to hear the news,” the neighbor said. “I’m thinking this was an isolated incident in this neighborhood. But timing is of the essence. If a kid might have seen that, it could be terrifying to them.”
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
