A 69-year-old Long Island man was fatally stabbed in his apartment, allegedly by his 33-year-old son who broke into the residence early Monday morning.

According to Suffolk County prosecutors, Sage Arias-Brown broke into the Mastic apartment of his father, Edward Brown, around 12:30 a.m. on Monday, September 7. Arias-Brown allegedly stabbed his father multiple times in the abdomen and chest before fleeing the scene. A witness reported hearing the suspect force his way into the apartment, followed by the victim screaming for help, and then saw the suspect exit the building.

Despite sustaining fatal injuries, Edward Brown managed to crawl to a phone and dial 911 to report the attack before collapsing. First responders declared him dead at the scene. The exact motive and details of any confrontation leading up to the violence remain under investigation.

Police arrested Arias-Brown just blocks away from the crime scene shortly after the incident. At his arraignment, where prosecutors described the sequence of events, Arias-Brown pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. The court ordered him remanded without bail, with his next court appearance scheduled for Friday, September 11.

Defense attorney Katherine Fernandez noted during proceedings that Arias-Brown has a history of mental illness as well as a pending robbery case.