Son fatally shot by police after stabbing mother more than 40 times, police say

Prior incidents at the home

Kiernan said there were numerous domestic incidents at the house over the last decade.

There was a handicap placard on one of the parked cars at the Topping Drive house as of Monday morning but it was unclear if the victim used a wheelchair.

Asked about body camera footage of the shooting, the chief said the department will “make as much information available to the public as possible, and he will “be working with our town attorney's office to establish protocol for that.”

AG's office notified

The news release said the New York State Attorney General’s Office was notified about the shooting, as required by law.

"At this time, our primary focus is assisting the Attorney General’s Office and Suffolk County Investigators in conducting a complete and transparent investigation," the release said,

It added: "Our thoughts remain with the victim and all those affected by this traumatic incident."

Officers shot to stop attack, police say in release

In a news release police said "Moments later, three Southampton Town Police officers arrived on scene and encountered Steven Eastwood armed with a knife, standing over his mother, who was on the floor inside the residence.

"The officers repeatedly ordered Mr. Eastwood to drop the knife. Instead, he began advancing toward the officers while still armed. In an effort to draw him away from the victim and de-escalate the situation, officers backed away as he approached them with the knife," the release said.

"Within moments he refocused his attention on the victim and returned to her and was actively stabbing and slashing at her body," the release said. "Faced with an ongoing deadly assault, officers discharged their service weapons, striking Mr. Eastwood and immediately stopping the attack."

Order of protection

The chief said there may have been an order of protection in the past but it was unclear whether it was current.

A traumatic event

The victim was in surgery, but is still unconscious, the chief said.

The suspect has lived with her on and off. 

Kiernan said officers experienced a very traumatic event and they were shaken.

Officers fired shots as the man was actively attacking the victim inside the house.

Police tried to get his attention

Kiernan said police tried to get his attention but he “returned to her actively stabbing and stabbing at her body.“

Some of the stab wounds were made during the response to the incident and while police officers were there.

Only the mother and son were inside the house at the time. Numerous incidents had been reported at this residence before, he said.

Southampton police say investigation is continuing

Southampton Chief James Kiernan, speaking at a news conference, said Sunday's shooting began with a 2:43 p.m. 911 call from a woman saying her 28-year old son was intoxicated and acting violently. She later made another 911 call saying that he threatened her with a knife

The victim sustained more than 40 stab and slash wounds and was taken to Stony Brook Hospital.

Witness describes Northampton shooting

Greg Mastronardi, whose parents live across the street on Topping Drive, said he and his wife witnessed the shooting.

Mastronardi said that he saw a man come out of the house with a knife in his hand.

"The cop was telling him, 'drop the knife, drop the knife' several times. He didn't comply," he added.

The police officer was about 10 feet from the stairs leading up to the porch of the home — where the man was — when the officer opened fire, Mastronardi said.

Multiple injures in Northampton incident

A woman suffered serious injuries during the incident, Suffolk police said, and she was taken to a hospital. It was unclear how she was injured.

Three Town of Southampton police officers were also taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries, but were treated and released.

"There is currently no danger to the community," Southampton police spokeswoman Det. Sgt. Gina Laferrera said in a statement on Sunday.

Southampton Town police shoot, kill man armed with knife

Town of Southampton police shot and killed a man armed with a knife on Sunday afternoon after officers responded to a call of a "violent" disturbance in a family home, Suffolk County police said in a statement late Sunday.

Town police said they received a call at 2:43 p.m. from a resident on Topping Drive in the hamlet of Northampton about "an escalating violent domestic situation."

A witness said police shot the man outside the home when he refused to drop the knife.

Police will discuss the incident at a noon news conference.