A Long Island, New York, teenager with a history of
psychiatric problems killed his 15-year-old brother and brutally beat his
mother - a respected physician - into a coma over the weekend, police say.
Charles Okonkwo Jr., 18, has been charged with assault on his
mother, Chinwe Okonkwo, 52, Saturday in Dix Hill, New York, but does not yet
face charges on the death of Bradley Okonkwo.
Mrs Okonkwo, a Brooklyn doctor, has received the
Congressional Leadership Award and runs Hope Outreach Foundation, a nonprofit
organization that promote public health in Brooklyn and across the world.
Charles Okonkwo Sr., Mrs Okonkwo's husband, returned home
from a hospital stay on Saturday night and found his son Bradley dead in his
bedroom. His wife was laying unconscious in a pool of blood next to her car in
the garage, Newsday reports.
Mrs Okonkwo was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where she
remains in critical condition. She suffered facial fractures and doctors have
had to relieve swelling on her brain.
Medical examiners could not immediately determine Bradley
Okonkwo's cause of death and are doing more tests to try to determine how he
died.
Charles Okonkwo Jr. was arrested Saturday night shortly after
the attack was discovered. He had fled the family home in his parents' BMW X5
SUV, but was spotted by police just a short distance away from the crime scene.
He admitted to 'hurting' his mother and little brother,
authorities say.
In court on Sunday, a defense said that Charles Okonkwo Jr.
had a history of mental illness, but didn't elaborate on what sorts of problems
he has.
Authorities also offered no motive for the alleged attack.
Members of Long Island's Nigerian immigrant community stopped
by the Okonkwo house on Sunday to pay their respects to the family.
'This is very tragic. No one saw it coming,' family friend
Lawrence Monwe told Newsday.
'This was the perfect family you wouldn't expect it to happen
to.'
culled from dailymaiil.co.uk
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