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One Dead After Two Children Brutally Stabbed In Brooklyn Elevator
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 2, 2014
Modified Jun 2, 2014
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 2, 2014
Modified Jun 2, 2014
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Last night, two children were attacked in an East New York apartment building elevator. Prince Joshua Avitto, 6, and Mikayala Capers, 7, were stabbed repeatedly by a man at 845 Schenck Avenue. Prince Joshua died at Brookdale Hospital while Mikayala, who has a collapsed lung, is in critical condition after surgery. The president of the tenant’s association told the Post, "They were just coming outside to get some ice cream and ices. This is the worst thing that I’ve ever seen in this neighborhood."
The stabbing occurred before 5:50 p.m., and it's believed that the suspect is a heavyset man in his 20s wearing a grey sweatshirt. A butcher knife was reportedly found at the scene. The Daily News reports he "stabbed both children in the torso on the lift somewhere between the first and fourth floors after telling them to 'shut up,' a police source said. Mikayla had enough strength to stumble out of the elevator on the first level but she soon collapsed to the floor, a trail of blood marking her attempt to flee. The boy was discovered when the elevator arrived on the fourth floor, police said."
A neighbor told the News, "She was laying face up, they were on her chest. They (EMTs) opened up her jacket and all you could see is blood... [Prince Joshua] was covered head to toe in blood. I just seen that little boy yesterday. I’m hurt. These are my daughter’s friends. These are kids."
Prince Joshua's mother was inconsolable outside the hospital, "His birthday was in 16 days! Lord, they done killed my baby!" And Mikayala's great-grandmother told the Post, "What kind of animal would do a thing like this. I have faith in the NYPD to pound the streets until they catch this bastard."
Tagged
brooklyn
east new york
fatal stabbing
Mikayala Capers
Prince Joshua Avitto
stabbing
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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