A man from Queens is charged with murder, arson, and weapons offenses after allegedly stabbing his mother-in-law to death and injuring her teenage son during a violent outburst fueled by alcohol, according to law enforcement officials.
Weisheng Chen, 27, faces multiple legal charges including six counts of murder, four counts of illegal firearm possession, two counts of arson, and four counts of assault following the incident, which occurred at their Flushing residence. Authorities reported that Chen also set their home on Smart Street on fire during the attack, as detailed in a recent article.
Friends claim that Chen was experiencing marital issues and had been drinking heavily before he allegedly launched the violent attack just before 4 p.m. on Thursday.
According to police, Chen first stabbed Qiujin Shi, 50, then turned on her 17-year-old son, injuring him in the face and armpit, before igniting a mattress and attempting to harm himself by cutting his wrists.
One victim managed to escape and call for help, alerting a Port Authority officer in proximity who quickly rendered aid and summoned emergency services, sources indicated.
Both Shi and her son were transported to NewYork Presbyterian Hospital, where Shi later succumbed to her injuries while her son was reported to be in stable condition.
Chen was taken to the hospital for treatment following the incident and remained there as of Saturday.
Witnesses heard sounds of conflict before discovering the injured victims. An eyewitness, Guqing Zhang, 20, described how he initially couldn’t hear due to his VR headset but later heard yelling that prompted him to investigate.
“I saw my cousin covered in blood on the staircase,” he recounted. He went to check on his aunt but discovered her unresponsive on the floor, with reports escalating that a man was inside the home with a knife.
His younger sister, 16-year-old Rouxin Lin, recalled hearing an explosion-like sound.
“When I got to the staircase, I noticed the smell of smoke and found my cousin bleeding. I was told to stay downstairs until help arrived,” Lin recounted. “I heard they were arguing about a divorce, but their interactions seemed normal to me. There was no indication of any conflict in the house prior to this.” She remembered her aunt fondly as a compassionate person and an excellent cook.
As of Saturday, Chen was awaiting his arraignment at Queens Criminal Court.
