The Flushing woman who allegedly stabbed five people — including three infants — at a local day care center on Friday morning will remain behind bars indefinitely.
Yufen Wang, 52, of Cherry Avenue appeared in Queens Criminal Court on Sept. 24 for arraignment on five counts of second-degree attempted murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Queens Criminal Court Judge Toni Cimino ordered Wang held without bail, and to return to court on Oct. 19.
Law enforcement sources said Wang went on a violent rampage early on the morning of Sept. 21 at the day care facility where she worked, on 161st Street near 45th Avenue. She allegedly slashed and stabbed three infants, one as young as 13 days old, and attacked a coworker and one of the babies’ fathers, according to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown.
It’s still unclear why Wang went on the attack, prosecutors said.
“[Wang] is charged with an unimaginable act — an attack on defenseless, innocent babies,” Brown said in a Sept. 24 statement. “The defendant was hired to care for and protect the infants, sadly she was the danger. This kind of senseless violence can not go unpunished and the defendant now faces a lengthy term of incarceration.”
Police said the violence erupted at about 3 a.m. on Sept. 21 inside the three-story residence where the facility is located. As several Queens lawmakers noted later that day, it’s believed that the day care center — which lacked proper licensing — served as a postpartum facility to help young mothers raise their newborns during the first few weeks of their lives.
One of the girls’ fathers witnessed the attack and went to stop Wang, who then allegedly stabbed him in the leg and wrist. Law enforcement sources said that Wang also allegedly knifed a female coworker in the face, chest and legs.
Officers from the 109th Precinct and EMS units rushed to the scene. All of the victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries.
Responding officers found Wang in the basement with wounds to her neck and wrist that appeared to be self-inflicted, Brown said. Two knives used in the attack were also located and recovered. Wang was taken into custody and treated for her injuries; she also underwent a psychiatric evaluation.
If convicted of all charges, Wang could spend between 5 and 25 years in prison, Brown added.
