LI Man Accused In Dad's Labor Day Slaying Has 'History Of Mental Health Issues,' Defense Attorney Says

LONG ISLAND, NY — The Long Island man accused of fatally knifing his father to death inside his apartment early Labor Day morning has a history of mental health issues, his defense attorney says.

Edward Brown called 911 and reported he had been stabbed in his apartment on Mastic Boulevard at around 12:30 a.m. on Monday, Suffolk police said.

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Prosecutors say Sage Arias-Brown went inside the apartment and his father multiple times in the torso and abdomen with a knife, and during the attack, Brown was able to call 911, Newsday reported.

A witness heard Arias-Brown go inside the apartment, heard Brown's screams for help, and also saw Arias-Brown leave the apartment, according to the outlet.

When officers and EMS personnel from the Mastic Volunteer Ambulance Company responded, they tried life-saving measures, but he died at the scene, according to police.

Arias-Brown was found near the apartment and officers identified him based on the information provided by the witness, Newsday reported.

Homicide Squad detectives charged Arias-Brown, 33, of Lake Ronkonkoma, with second-degree murder, and he was held overnight at the 6th Precinct in Selden for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on Tuesday.

He pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, online court records show.

After his not guilty plea, he was remanded without bail to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, online records show.

His attorney, Katherine Fernandez of Uniondale, said he has no prior criminal convictions.

"Mr. Brown does have a history of mental health issues, thus we are declining further comment at this time and asking that he be afforded the right to allow the judicial process play out," she said.

Brown is also facing a robbery charge in an unrelated case, online records show.

The fatal stabbing was one of two stabbing incidents over Labor Day weekend in the Mastic-Shirley area. A man stabbed another, and was arrested for assault on Sunday afternoon in Shirley.

Anyone with information about the stabbings are asked to call detectives at 631-852-6392, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS, a confidential police hotline. All calls will be kept confidential, police said.