New York man assaults parents, sets neighbors' homes on fire, police say

A 21-year-old New York man is accused of assaulting his parents and then starting a fire that damaged two Long Island homes, WPIX reported.

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Brian Alejo, of Cedarhurst, is charged with attempted murder, assault, arson, criminal possession of a weapon and attempted escape, the television station reported.

According to Nassau County police, Alejo was at home with his parents when an argument broke out early Saturday.

Alejo allegedly attacked his father and stabbed him several times, Nassau County police told WNBC. The man was in critical condition at an area hospital, according to his wife, Rosa Alejo. Brian Alejo then punched his mother in the eye, the television station reported. Rosa Alejo said she had a black eye.

Police said Alejo fled to a nearby residence and hid for several hours before starting a fire in the neighbor's garage, WPIX reported.

"It was very, very scary," Judy Capoziello, a neighbor, told WCBS. "There were a lot of police outside screaming, 'Get out of the house! Get (out) of the house!'"

“I turned around, opened the window, and I saw flames coming from underneath the garage,” another neighbor, Leah Rosenberg told the television station. “It’s very, very sad when you see something like that.”

Alejo turned himself in to police, but then tried to escape custody and was restrained by several officers, WNBC reported.

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