A man from the Hamptons, identified as Stephen Eastwood, stabbed his wheelchair-bound mother more than 40 times before police intervened and shot him during the horrific incident that occurred on Mother’s Day, according to officials.
Eastwood, 28, was killed by police in a shocking turn of events on Sunday afternoon. His mother is now in critical condition at a local hospital, while the responding officers are reported to be “extremely shaken,” as noted by Southampton Police Chief James Keenan.
“We’ve seen multiple incidents at this address over the last decade,” Keenan remarked during a press conference. “In response to the ongoing attack, officers had no choice but to use their firearms, hitting Mr. Eastwood and stopping the violence.”
The tragic chain of events began around 2:45 p.m. when the unnamed victim called 911 from her home on Toppings Pass Drive in Northampton, reporting that her son was intoxicated and acting violently.
While police were en route, the mother called for help again, this time revealing that her son was threatening her with a knife.
Upon their arrival, officers found Eastwood standing over his mother, who was covered in blood and holding a knife.
Despite commands for him to drop the weapon, Eastwood continued to assault her, prompting three officers to discharge their weapons.
Fortunately, the mother survived and is now battling for her life at Stony Brook University Hospital.
Interestingly, she has triplet sons, two of whom struggle with mental health issues, and police confirmed the family has faced ongoing domestic violence issues for about a decade.
The victim had previously secured a protection order against her son, yet it is currently not valid.
Three officers involved in the shooting were taken to the hospital for evaluation but are said to be “okay though very shaken.”
As of now, authorities haven’t disclosed a motive for the violent attack on Mother’s Day.
The New York State Attorney General’s office is launching an investigation into the shooting, which is a customary follow-up for police-involved fatalities in the state.
“What happened yesterday was incredibly tragic and violent,” said Southampton City Commissioner Maria Moore on Monday. “Our main focus is on the victims and their families as they deal with severe injuries.”
She added, “We appreciate the swift response and professionalism from our police officers, paramedics, and support agencies during this tense situation.”
