Girl dead after brother stabs her
Mother also injured during incident Monday on Stoner Drive in West Hartford, police say
One child is dead and her mother was in stable condition late Monday after they were stabbed by the child’s brother at the family’s house in a quiet West Hartford neighborhood, police said.
The woman called 911 just before 3:30 p.m. and said she and her daughter had been stabbed by her son, police said. The family members were not identified and no motive was clear.
The boy, wholives in the same house, was taken into custody without incident, police said. The stabbing happened on Stoner Drive.
West Hartford Fire Department paramedics arrived on scene shortly after police and administered medical attention before transporting both victims to St. Francis Hospital with serious injuries. The juvenile daughter died at the hospital and the mother was in stable condition by 9:30 p.m.
Police said the juvenile male suspect was taken to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries that he sustained during the incident.
Late Monday, police were preparing to obtain a search warrant for the house. Earlier in the day, the neighborhood was filled with police and fire personnel. A number of neighbors were kept far back from the home and said they were unaware of what had happened.
Police said they expected to be at the Stoner Drive home throughout the night.
On Monday night, West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor sent out a statement on behalf of the Murphy-Curtin family. West Hartford police would not confirm the identities of the victims on Monday night.
“Our family, friends, and community are all suffering tonight,” the statement read. “We are all enduring a very painful and unimaginable loss. Our family will never be the same. Our daughter was a beautiful child and we will remember forever her smile ... laughter … and remember her for the way she loved and lived. We thank you all for your condolences and prayers. Please understand that this loss is not contained to our family. Our children attended West Hartford schools and have so many friends that are hurting tonight as well. West Hartford is a strong community. We are comforted to know that we aren’t alone in our grief. We ask that as we are suffering, please respect our privacy as well as that of our neighbors.”
Cantor said as the news moved through the community Monday evening “everybody is very sad and concerned.”
The school district will have mental health professionals available to students and staff at all schools Tuesday.
“We are incredibly brokenhearted to hear such tragic news,” Cantor said. “We will do all we can to support the family, students, and staff through this incredibly difficult time.”
Cantor said she is “incredibly grateful” to the first responders involved in Monday night’s call.
“No c ommunity is immune to an intensely tragic situation,” Cantor said. “I’m sure if you talk to communities that have been through it — Pitts- burgh, Sandy Hook — nobody is immune to tragedy. ... We’re a great community and this is a tragic event.” The Sedgwick Middle School concert was scheduled for Monday night but canceled.
Schools superintendent Tom Moore issued a robocall to parents Monday night:
“Good evening. Earlier today we were informed by West Hartford police of a tragic event occurring in the home of one of our families. In difficult times, we do all that we can to support our families, students and staff members in dealing with crises. We will have mental health professionals available for students and staff at our schools, both tomorrow and in the coming days. Please keep this family, their friends, and all of our children in your thoughts and prayers.”