Mum’s horror as son, six, is stabbed to death in a lift by monster dubbed the Brooklyn ripper

Aricka McClinton has paid tribute to her boy PJ, who was days away from turning seven when he was tragically murdered by a complete stranger.

A grief-stricken mother has relived the harrowing moment when she was told an innocent play date with a friend had ended in her six-year-old son being knifed to death in a lift by a monster dubbed the “Brooklyn Ripper.”

Just hours earlier, devoted mum Aricka McClinton, 47, a home help, had left her beloved boy Prince Joshua Avitto – or PJ – with his godmother, who was taking him to the park before he met his best friend Mikayla Capers, then aged seven.

Playing happily together outside, the pals made the fatal decision to pop back upstairs to PJ’s sixth floor home, in Brooklyn, New York, USA, to grab some ice lollies, when they were set upon by evil Daniel St Hubert, 31.

PJ in a Superman costume (PA Real Life/Collect)

A total stranger, armed with an eight-inch knife, the cold blooded killer attacked the innocent schoolchildren in the lift – stabbing Mikayla, who somehow escaped his clutches, 16 times, while PJ died from his injuries.

Speaking after St Hubert was jailed in May 2018 for 50 years to life, following his conviction for second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder, Aricka paid tribute to the son she loved so much.

Now fighting for better security in housing authority properties like her own, she said: “PJ was 16 days away from turning seven, then he was murdered by some deranged man, who had nothing better to do than walk into our home and stab two innocent children.”

Aricka and PJ (PA Real Life/Collect)

She added: “St Hubert still gets to live his life, even if it is in jail – but PJ is never coming back. I hate to feel so angry, but it’s unfair.

“We had so many plans together. This has taught me to live for the day, and not put anything on hold, as you never know what’s around the corner.”

Remembering PJ, Aricka, who split with his dad when he was tiny but remains on good terms with him, described him as an “inquisitive soul,” who loved basketball and, touchingly, would pick out some of his toys every Christmas to give away to needy children.

PJ would pick out toys every Christmas to give away to children in need (PA Real Life/Collect)

In the weeks leading up to the horrific attack on June 1, 2014, she was busy planning his seventh birthday.

She said: “We’d planned a big barbeque. He loved the outdoors, so I’d got him a gardening set to play with. But he never got to use it.”

Living in a close-knit neighbourhood, Aricka said it was not unusual for local children to head out to play together.

Daniel St Hubert (PA Real Life/Brooklyn District Attorney)

“I would never have left PJ by himself. I’d take him right outside myself and keep a close eye on him, but it was common for all the kids to play together,” she said.

“There was a stoop outside and they’d all gather round there and call it their office.

“I’ve moved elsewhere in New York now, although I still go back to Brooklyn, but it’s very sullen and sad to see that neighbourhood.”

Little PJ was especially close to Mikayla, who he had known all his life.

“She even helped him learn to walk,” continued Aricka. “They were best friends. The windows of our apartments faced each other, so they’d call out for one another to go and play.”

But, Aricka, who has two older children, Sharod, now 25, and T’Andra, 21, said their happy lives were turned upside down in June 2014.

PJ was just six when he died (PA Real Life/Collect)

On that fateful day, needing to run some errands, she had let PJ go to the park with his godmother and then on to play tag with Mikayla outside.

At around 5:40pm, the pair decided to go up to PJ’s home for some ice lollies.

Chattering away, they entered the lift for the block of flats and were followed by St Hubert.

PJ has been remembered as a funny, gentle child (PA Real Life/Collect)

To this day, his motive remains unclear, but in that short lift ride, he pulled out a steak knife and repeatedly stabbed both children.

“The first I knew that something was wrong, a neighbour was banging on my door saying, ‘PJ has been hurt,’” said Aricka. “I was frantic, trying to get outside, but there were so many people there.

“I heard somebody scream that there had been a stabbing. The whole street was frantic. I kept shouting, ‘Where is my son?’ Then I saw PJ and Mikayla being loaded into ambulances.”

Aricka and PJ (PA Real Life/Collect)

Racing to Brookdale University Hospital, Aricka and her family waited anxiously for news.

But while medics managed to save Mikayla, PJ’s 11 stab wounds were too severe.

“When they said he didn’t make it, I passed out,” Aricka recalled. “I came to and everybody was screaming and crying. A nurse came over and told me they’d wash my baby up and bring me to see him.”

PJ playing in the snow (PA Real Life/Collect)

She added: “Last time I saw him, he’d been going off to the park like he’d done so many times – and now I was never going to see him again.

“Nobody could understand who had done this or why. In that moment, when I was far from in my right mind, I wanted to kill whoever it was.”

Despite her haze of grief, desperate for answers, the distraught mum found the strength to speak to reporters, who had gathered outside the hospital, seeking information.

Meanwhile, police began to piece together what had happened and discovered a bloodied steak knife near the scene.

St Hubert was also clocked by CCTV, wearing the same clothes as described by witnesses who had seen him flee, around 10 minutes after the crime was committed.

Three days later, he was apprehended and arrested.

Aricka is hoping to set up a scholarship in PJ's name (PA Real Life/Collect)

“I hugged the police when they told me they’d got him,” said Aricka. “They’d promised to do all they could for me. I think they knew that it could have been them, or their kids.

“I had no idea who he was, I’d never heard of him. All I knew was that there was no way he was getting away with this.”

As Aricka waited for the case to go to trial, she faced the harrowing task of burying her son.

Aricka and PJ (PA Real Life/Collect)

She also had to endure what would have been PJ’s seventh birthday, which she tried to turn into a positive by throwing a celebration of his life, to which hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects.

Initially, with St Hubert’s family claiming he suffered mental health issues and him saying Satan made him commit the unthinkable crime, it was feared he’d use an insanity defence.

But, after being declared fit to stand trial, he appeared at Brooklyn Supreme Court earlier this year.

Aricka said she never lost hope that PJ's killer would be found guilty (PA Real Life/Collect)

In an astonishing show of bravery, Mikayla, by then 11, took to the stand, pointing out “the bad man” and asking the judge to send him to prison for life.

As the families grieved, St Hubert, of Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, fell asleep during the trial.

In April 2018, he was convicted of murder and attempted murder and jailed the following month.

PJ in his baseball gear (PA Real Life/Collect)

“He kept looking over at me during the hearing,” said Aricka. “He’s this big, burly guy, but I made sure I didn’t look away. I’m not afraid of him. It sickens me that anyone could defend that beast. He isn’t a man – men don’t do that.

“I always knew he’d be found guilty and my faith that justice would be served for PJ never faltered.”

Now, as she works through her heartache for PJ, Aricka is determined to create something positive in his memory.

A community centre has been opened in his name, and she plans to set up a scholarship to help children from the area get to college, as his legacy.

She wants to see better security in housing association properties, too, championing the reintroduction of neighbourhood watch schemes, more cameras, security doors and sign in and out systems in building lobbies.

Touchingly, local residents have made sure PJ will never be forgotten.

PJ was just weeks away from turning seven when he died (PA Real Life/Collect)

His school even includes him in every graduation ceremony – moving him up to the next grade along with his classmates, as he would have, had he still been alive.

“This should never have happened. We need far more protection, but I can’t change this all by myself, and sadly not many people these days want to help,” Aricka added.

“I will continue to fight, though, and continue to remember PJ for the sweet, funny, gentle child that he was.”

St Hubert has filed an appeal and Aricka has filed a lawsuit against the City of New York. When approached, they declined to comment.

Mollie Marcoux Samaan is resigning in January as LPGA commissioner, a surprise announcement Monday after record growth in prize money along with criticism the LPGA wasn't gaining in popularity during the surge in women's sports.

Marcoux Samaan is leaving on Jan. 9, three weeks before the LPGA begins its 75th season. Liz Moore, the chief legal and technology officer, will be interim commissioner until a search committee hires a new one.

Marcoux Samaan did not cite a specific reason for resigning except to mention spending more time with her three children. She will serve the third-shortest stint among nine LPGA commissioners dating to 1975, behind only Jim Ritts (1996-99) and Bill Blue (1988-90).

“With the LPGA positioned for continued growth, it’s time for me to have more time to cheer on our three amazing children as they live their dreams while I continue to pursue my passion for building leaders, uniting communities and creating value through sports, particularly women’s sports,” Marcoux Samaan said in a statement.

The LPGA said prize money increased by more than 90% under Marcoux Samaan, a big part of that the major championships. The five majors had a combined prize fund of $23.4 million in 2021. Next year, the majors combine to offer at least $47.8 million in prize money.

She announced the end of her tenure a week after the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship awarded $4 million to the winner, Jeeno Thitikul, from an $11 million purse.

“Since joining the LPGA in 2021, Mollie has been instrumental in solidifying our position as the global leader in women’s professional golf, realizing record growth in player earnings and fan engagement,” said John B. Veihmeyer, chairman of the LPGA board. “Mollie has been a steadfast advocate for equity in the sport and has worked tirelessly to expand opportunities for women and girls through the game.”

The LPGA said the average earnings for the top 100 players topped $1 million this year, compared with an average of just over $570,000 in 2021.

Women's sports across the landscape has seen a spike in money and interest, though Marcoux Samaan was criticized for the LPGA not getting enough attention behind remarkable story lines this year. Nelly Korda tied an LPGA record with five straight wins, and Lydia Ko won Olympic gold to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame, and then won another major at the Women's British Open at St. Andrews.

The Americans also won the Solheim Cup, but not without a transportation mess on the opening day at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia when there were not enough buses for spectators and many of them waited hours before they could get in, missing the opening tee shots that typically feature packed grandstands and raucous cheering.

Marcoux Samaan pointed to growth in defending her job when some of the criticism was raised at the season-ending tournament.

“I focus every day on trying to support the athletes, to try to grow the tour, and to try to make this the best place in the world to play and to give additional opportunities to girls and women. So I feel like the statistics really speak for themselves,” she said at the Tour Championship.

“I think we’re experiencing enormous growth. That’s really what my job is.”

Along with huge increases in earnings, Marcoux Samaan announced full subsidized health care for the LPGA for the first time in its history. She also was behind stipends for missing the cut and domestic travel in a bid to make sure players were adequately compensated.

Official prize money for the LPGA in 2025 is $127.5 million.

Terry Duffy, the chairman and CEO of CME Group, signed a two-year extension of the LPGA deal. In an interview with Golfweek, he gave Marcoux Samaan high marks.

“I don’t know how you could not give A++ to where the tour is at today under her leadership,” Duffy said. “I run markets. I don’t care if you’re running a business at a hardware store or an exchange or professional golf, there’s ebbs and flows to everything in life and everything in business. ... If you’re worth more today than you were 10 years ago or three years ago, you’re doing the right things.”

Marcoux Samaan was the ninth commissioner — and second female commissioner — when she left her role as athletic director at Princeton. Marcoux Samaan replaced Mike Whan, who took over in 2010 when players revolted and ousted Carolyn Bivens.

Whan brought high energy and a big personality during his 11 years, making him the longest-serving LPGA commissioner in history.

The LPGA board will work with an executive search firm to conduct a global search for the organization’s next commissioner.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

FILE - LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan speaks to the gallery after the final round of the LPGA Ford Championship golf tournament Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Gilbert, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)