Courtesy Freepik
Murder-Suicide Attempt Leaves Mother, Child Dead in NYC
A Queens man has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing his wife and 2-year-old daughter to death in what authorities are investigating as a murder-suicide attempt carried out during a video call with a relative, police said.
Officers responded to a 911 call just after 7 p.m. Saturday reporting an assault in progress inside an apartment on Forest Avenue near Menahan Street in Ridgewood. Police said the call came from a relative who was on FaceTime with the suspect at the time of the attack.
Inside the apartment, officers found 41-year-old Ana Pilatagsi-Moposita and her daughter, Analiz Cruz, with multiple stab wounds to their necks and chests. The Mother was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital, while Anila was taken to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center where they were both pronounced dead.
The alleged attacker, 54-year-old Ernesto Cruz, was found with a stab wound to his chest. He was also taken to Elmhurst, where he remained in critical condition as of Sunday. Police say the stabbing appears to be a domestic violence incident and are investigating it as an attempted murder-suicide.
Cruz was charged Sunday with two counts of murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, the New York Police Department said.
According to investigators, the FaceTime call was placed to Cruz’s nephew during the incident. The nephew contacted authorities immediately after witnessing what appeared to be the stabbing of the child and her mother.
According to Channel 7, Neighbors described the scene as chaotic and horrifying.
Investigators say Pilatagsi-Moposita was stabbed approximately 18 times, and the toddler nine times. The couple and child reportedly kept to themselves, and no prior domestic disturbances had been reported at the residence, police said.
Officials said the motive for the attack remains under investigation.
The Ridgewood community, a quiet residential area in northwest Queens, is reeling from the violence. Outside the building Sunday, a small memorial of flowers and candles began to take shape as neighbors mourned.
The investigation is ongoing.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org.
Courtesy NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
