Crime
Damien Hurstel Charged in Fatal Stabbing and Decapitation of His Stepfather Anthony Casalaspro on Staten Island
WEST BRIGHTON, Staten Island — A 19-year-old man is facing serious criminal charges after allegedly stabbing his 45-year-old stepfather to death inside their Staten Island home on Monday afternoon.
According to the New York City Police Department, Damien Hurstel, 19, has been charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the killing of Anthony Casalaspro, 45, his stepfather.
Police responded to a 911 call reporting a stabbing at 380 Cary Avenue in the West Brighton neighborhood shortly before 4:30 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Casalaspro unresponsive in the bathtub with multiple stab wounds to his head and neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators say Hurstel’s sister arrived at the residence around 4:00 p.m. and found blood throughout several rooms before discovering her stepfather’s body in the bathroom. She immediately alerted authorities.
Police sources described the scene as extremely violent, confirming that the victim had sustained severe injuries and that the weapon — a knife — was recovered at the scene.
Hurstel was taken into custody without incident shortly after police arrived. Authorities have not yet disclosed a motive, but investigators are exploring the possibility that the suspect may have a history of mental illness.
Neighbors expressed shock and disbelief at the gruesome nature of the crime.
“This whole world is upside down,” said one longtime resident. “It’s terrible — you don’t do this to another person, not even to an animal.”
Another neighbor, Hugh Nembhard, who has lived across the street for six decades, said the neighborhood has changed in recent years. “I saw the father, but never the stepson,” Nembhard said. “This is a complete shock to me.”
The NYPD’s Homicide Division is leading the investigation.
Authorities continue to process evidence and interview witnesses to determine what led to the fatal stabbing.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
BEND, Ore. — Rhoam Summer, 5, has been identified as the first reported victim of the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, where preliminary reports indicate that four victims, including three children and one adult, were killed. The 16-year-old suspect also died, bringing the reported death toll to five.
The shooting prompted a major law enforcement and emergency response Thursday afternoon, October 15, 2026, after Bend police issued an active-shooter alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Authorities described a large police presence at the school and urged the public to avoid the area.
Information provided in preliminary reports indicated that the children killed were ages 5, 8 and 11. One teacher was also reported dead. Rhoam Summer, 5, was identified as the first victim publicly named in connection with the tragedy.
Authorities had not yet released the names of the other reported victims in the information available for this report.
According to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement, four victims died as a result of the shooting: three children and one adult. The suspected shooter, a 16-year-old Bend resident, was also reported dead.
This brings the reported total to five deaths, including the suspect.
Reports indicated that two additional people were transported for medical treatment in critical condition. They were described as a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher.
The reported casualties have not all been independently confirmed through a complete official victim list. Further information from law enforcement and medical authorities is needed to establish the final number of injured people and the conditions of those receiving treatment.
Preliminary reports identified the suspected shooter as a 16-year-old resident of Bend. The teenager was reportedly armed with a shotgun.
Scanner traffic and early reports indicated that a bystander, described as a Good Samaritan and possibly the father of a student, shot and killed the suspect. Reports also described the bystander as someone legally carrying a concealed firearm.
However, the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death, including the identity and role of the bystander, require confirmation from law enforcement. These details should not be considered established facts until officials release an authoritative account.
Authorities had reported that the suspect was deceased, but further verified information about the sequence of events was not available in the preliminary reports summarized here.
Bend police issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday reporting an active shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend.
The initial alert provided limited information but warned residents of a large police presence and urged them to stay away from the area. Police, fire crews and emergency medical personnel responded to the school.
The incident triggered urgent safety measures as authorities worked to secure the campus, assess casualties and coordinate the emergency response.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced that a reunification site had been established at Journey Church, located at 61303 S Highway 97, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Families of students were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with their children.
Parents also received alerts indicating that nearby schools, including Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary, had been placed under lockdown as a precaution while law enforcement responded to the shooting.
The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School has left families and the Bend community facing a devastating loss. The reported deaths of three children and one adult, along with the death of the teenage suspect, have made the incident one of the most serious school emergencies reported in the area.
Investigators are expected to establish the sequence of events, confirm the identities of the victims, determine how the shooting unfolded and clarify the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death.