Son accused of stabbing father to death inside Howard Beach home
A son is accused of stabbing his father to death late Saturday night inside their home in Howard Beach, Queens.
Police identified the victim as 76-year-old John Muraco, who lived at the home on 102nd Street.
Officers responded to a 911 call shortly before 11:45 p.m. Saturday and found Muraco with a stab wound to his chest.
Police said he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim's son, 25-year-old Carl Muraco, was arrested Sunday morning and charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
Neighbors in shock at violent death
Neighbors said the Muraco family – John Muraco, his wife and their two adult sons – moved into the house about a year or two ago. The neighbors said Carl Muraco, the older son, lived in the basement.
"The mother and the younger son came out, and they were there with the police like for three hours," neighbor Ylka Diaz said.
"I said, 'What happened? He goes, 'My brother killed my father,'" neighbor Simon Prestigiacomo said.
"The son stabbed the father in the heart, and it happened in the basement of the house," Diaz said.
"I pray for their family, their loved ones," neighbor Freddy Ariola said.
"[John Muraco] was a really nice person. Every time he saw me, he waved," Prestigiacomo said.
Investigators were still outside the home Sunday morning and had the area blocked off with crime scene tape.
The motive remains unclear.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. You can also submit a tip via their website. All calls are kept confidential.