New York City Police have charged a Brooklyn man with murder for what they called a “horrific and senseless” attack on a mother and her two children.

Det. Ron Montas, a spokesperson for NYPD, told USA TODAY that police charged Liyong Ye, 47, with murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and two counts of both attempted murder and assault for attacking Zhao Zhao, 43, and her children: a 5-year-old son and 3-year-old girl.

Montas said the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office handled Ye’s arraignment.

The mother died at a New York hospital from her injuries. Montas said the children’s conditions are still listed as critical.

Police believe the attack occurred after Ye and the mother got into a dispute. It is unknown at this time what the dispute was about but NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said three families, including the suspect and the victims, were living in “tight quarters” in a small apartment.

Tributes poured in as neighbors learned about the case. New York City Councilmember Alexa Aviles of the 38th District wrote on X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter, that the news was tragic and requested people to keep the family in their thoughts.

“I think I can speak for all New Yorkers when I can say our community, our prayers are with this family at this time,” Chell said in a news conference Wednesday.

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Suspect, victims shared an apartment together

Chell said the attack happened around 2 p.m. in the Sunset Park neighborhood. Officers from the 72nd Precinct responded to a 911 call for an assault.