Family member arrested in mass stabbing deaths: Police

A 25-year-old man was charged Sundayfor murdering g a mother and her four children with a kitchen knife in Sunset Park on Saturday night

Mingdong Chen, 25, a cousin of the children's father, was awaiting arraignment in Brooklyn criminal court Sundayon five charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Around 10:44 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to a 911 call at the house at Ninth Avenue and 57th Street, where Chen was living with his cousin's family, police said. The cousin's identity was not released by officials.

An NYPD spokesman said Chen had recently moved in with the cousin, who lived with his wife Qiao Zhen Li, 37, and their four kids, Linda Zhuo, 9; Amy Zhuo, 7; Kevin Zhou, 5; and William Zhuo, 1.

Cops said they found Chen bloodied inside the home next to the bodies of Li and the children, all of whom had been stabbed repeatedly. Linda, Amy and William Zhou were pronounced dead at the scene. The mother was taken to Lutheran Medical Center and Kevin was taken to Maimonides Medical Center.

Both were later pronounced dead at their respective hospitals.

Officers questioned Chen at the 66th precinct during the early morning hours Sundayand charged him later in the day.

NYPD Chief of Department Phil Banks told reporters that Chen used a kitchen knife and was erratic during questioning saying, "ever since he came to this country, everybody seems to be doing better than him."

A neighbor told DNAinfo.com that he heard screams before the police arrived, and that wasn't uncommon in the household.

"The family would fight a lot," the neighbor said. "They would yell at night, about 10 and 11 p.m."

The father was out working during the time of the incident, police said.

The NYPD wouldn't comment on reports that Chen recently lost a job and was having trouble adjusting to his new home.

The investigation is ongoing.