NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A household of eight was held hostage in Queens early Saturday morning, but the violent attack was thwarted when police responded and arrested three suspects the family said broke into their home.
Three men, all in their 30s, are accused of forcing their way into a home on Marathon Parkway, located near Cullman Avenue in Douglaston, just before 2:30 a.m. and terrorizing the five adults and three children inside.
The victims include two adult men ages 72 and 43; three adult women ages 71, 44 and 40; and a 13-year-old boy, 10-year-old girl and 1-year-old girl.
Police said that the three suspects were armed with a gun and two hammers
upon entry. The 71-year-old woman was punched in the face and the 43-year-old man hit in the foot with a hammer, officials said, before the trio allegedly took them hostage along with the rest of the victims.
When police responded to the scene, Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry said that they saw a woman fleeing her home with her young baby in her arms and she alerted police of the situation inside. Officers quickly surrounded the home and requested backup from the Emergency Service Unit and aviation unit.
Once surrounded, the suspects, who had stolen cash, ran out the back of the home through a window. They were quickly apprehended.
While the aviation unit was grounded due to low visibility, Daughtry said that drones responded and “provided invaluable assistance during the apprehension of the suspects.” He also posted an aerial thermal video to show the technology used in this incident.
“This response exemplifies the professionalism and commitment our officers demonstrate daily to keeping New Yorkers safe,” Daughtry said. “I believe it is crucial that we acknowledge and celebrate their outstanding work.”
The three arrested men are facing numerous charges, police said. Why the house was targeted is not yet known.
Officials said that the two injured adults refused medical attention.
A neighbor who lives on the block told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880 that he was surprised by there being an attack so close to home.
“We never expected something like this would ever happen in such a nice neighborhood like this,” he said. “We're all very neighborly. I think there's a sense of community around here.”
But George, who also lives nearby, disagrees. He thinks that criminals have the upper hand and don't always face consequences, emboldening them.
“They know that no one is going to do anything to them," he said. "They go in for one night and the next morning they're out without nothing.”