The Brooklyn man accused of beating a mother to death with a hammer in what has been described as a “horrific and a senseless act of violence” has been charged.
The incident was reported to have occurred inside the bedroom of a Sunset Park home around 2 PM on Wednesday.
Authorities say Li Yong Ye, the 43-year-old who lived in the apartment with 43-year-old Zhao Zhao and her kids, used a hammer to brutally attack them. He did so with his 9-year-old son watching. The bloodied weapon was recovered at the scene, and the attacker was apprehended as he was trying to leave the building.
Elected officials say the victim’s husband works in Ohio and is on his way back to be with his kids at the hospital.
Ye has been charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
He has no prior criminal record, and police are not sure why he carried out the attack. Officials say he will undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Without their mother present, the 5-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl who were bludgeoned by the hammer are in the hospital with serious wounds.
