BROOKLYN, N.Y. – A tragic event unfolded late Friday night in Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst neighborhood where a woman and three others, including two children, were found dead in an apartment, authorities said. The deceased were identified as Fayzieva Mavlyuda, 56, Maftuna Khakimova, 27, and her two children, Kamila Shavkatova, 5, and Timur Shavkatov, 4.
According to police, officers arrived at the scene on West 8th Street around 10:30 p.m. following reports of an assault. Inside the apartment, they discovered Mavlyuda with multiple stab wounds to her neck. Her daughter-in-law Khakimova and two grandchildren were also found deceased.
Neighbors described the victims as part of a close-knit family, with the children being siblings and Khakimova as their mother, while Mavlyuda was Khakimova’s mother-in-law.
In connection with the deaths, a 24-year-old man was taken into custody. The police have yet to release details about his relationship to the victims or any possible motives behind the incident.
Local residents expressed their shock and sorrow over the incident. “Most people have been around for years,” said Kenneth Scott, a long-time resident of the area. “Everybody knows everybody. Everybody helps each other. It’s not a bad neighborhood.”
Juan Perez, who lives across the street from where the tragedy occurred, recounted being awakened by the sound of cries of anguish outside his window. “There were multiple men sobbing uncontrollably and a lot of other men trying to console,” Perez said. Before understanding the full extent of the tragic events unfolding nearby, he was moved by the visible distress of those gathered on his stoop.
Reflecting on the gravity of the situation, Perez added, “If it had to be tragic for him to be like that. I have three kids. Nobody wants that.”
The neighborhood, known for its tight-knit community, has been left to grapple with the enormity of the tragedy. As the investigation continues, many are seeking answers to the violence that shattered the peace of their community late Friday night.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist with the ongoing investigation into the causes and circumstances of the tragic deaths. Meanwhile, the community holds on to the memory of four of its members, whose lives were tragically cut short.