October 9, 2025 QUEENS, NY The details are chilling, the images indelible: a multi-generational family home in Flushing, Queens, shattered by an explosion of violence. A 27-year-old man, Wei Sheng Chen, now faces a torrent of charges, including murder and arson, for a rampage that left his mother-in-law dead, his teenage brother-in-law brutally wounded, and first responders scrambling through the smoke.

As an old hand on the crime beat, I can tell you this kind of sheer, desperate brutality—unfolding within the walls of a family home—sends a shockwave far beyond the neighborhood. It's a tragic collision of domestic strife and deadly rage.

The Attack: A Scene of Unthinkable Violence

According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, the tranquility of the Flushing home was violently ruptured around 4 p.m. last week. Prosecutors paint a horrific picture:

• Qui Jin Shi, 50, Chen's mother-in-law, was the first target. She suffered repeated stab wounds to her torso and arms. She was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
• The violence immediately turned to her 17-year-old son, who was stabbed across his face, chest, back, and head. His survival is a testament to the skill of the doctors who used over 100 staples and stitches to close nearly 20 stab and slash wounds.
• In a move that escalated the nightmare, investigators say Chen then used alcohol to deliberately ignite three separate fires on the first floor.

Police arriving on the scene found Chen still armed with a knife. It took a Taser to finally subdue and arrest him, ending the terrifying ordeal. A grim reminder of the chaos: eight responding officers had to be treated for smoke inhalation.

The Domestic Roots of a Tragedy

What fuels such an inferno of violence? Relatives told reporters that Chen, who was married to their cousin, had reportedly been drinking that evening. Police sources added a crucial piece to the puzzle, noting the couple was "going through a hard time."

"This defendant murdered his mother-in-law, repeatedly stabbed his teenage brother-in-law and set three fires in his multi-generational family home," DA Katz stated, vowing to "pursue justice for the victims."

For the family and neighbors, the memory is raw. One cousin described seeing the injured teen "sitting on the stairs, bleeding," while another relative recounted the horrifying moment they found Shi "collapsed inside." The speed with which life turned to carnage is staggering.

Justice for Qui Jin Shi

Chen was quickly arraigned before Queens Criminal Court Judge Glenda Hernandez on Friday. He faces a slate of severe charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault, arson, and weapon possession. He was ordered held without bail.

If convicted, Wei Sheng Chen faces the possibility of life in prison. But for the family of Qui Jin Shi, the wounds run deeper than any legal verdict can heal.

This tragedy highlights the potential for lethal escalation in domestic disputes, especially where substances like alcohol are involved. What resources or support systems do you think are most critical for families facing marital or domestic instability?