A Brooklyn man has been indicted for allegedly attacking a mother and her two children with a hammer, District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced this week.
Liyong Ye, a 47-year-old resident of Sunset Park, faces several charges including second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
If convicted, Ye could face upwards of 25 years to life in prison, District Attorney Gonzalez said.
According to the investigation, the incident occurred back on Aug. 23, 2023, at approximately 1:30 p.m.
During that day, Ye allegedly attacked 43-year-old Zhao Zhao and her two kids inside an apartment at 531 52nd Street, a space that they all shared together.
Prior to the incident, Ye and Zhao had reportedly engaged in arguments stemming from the living conditions of the apartment, the district attorney mentioned.
According to the investigation, Ye allegedly called one of his roommates after the attack and told him to come pick up Zhao’s five-year-old son.
When the roommate arrived, he reportedly discovered blood covering the walls and floor of the apartment kitchen, along with Ye allegedly standing over the bodies of the three victims with a bloody hammer in hand.
The roommate would proceed to call the police, and Ye was later arrested outside of the Brooklyn apartment building.
Zhao was taken to Lutheran Hospital where she would be pronounced dead, as a result of blunt force trauma to her head and body.
The victim’s children were both treated at the Pediatric Trauma Unit at Bellevue Hospital, before being transferred to a long-term rehabilitation facility where they continue to recover from the critical injuries that they suffered.
“This was a horrific, harrowing, and unspeakably brutal attack on an innocent mother and her two defenseless young children,” said District Attorney Gonzalez. “With this prosecution, we will seek justice for Zhao Zhao and her son and daughter, as well their heartbroken family, friends, and neighbors.”
Ye’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 8, 2023.
