A man accused of killing a woman and her four children in Brooklyn pleaded not guilty to murder charges Monday , a spokeswoman for the Kings County District Attorney 's Office said . Mingdong Chen , 25 , is being held without bail in the Saturday stabbing spree , spokeswoman Mia Goldberg said . Chen made statements to police about his role in the deaths , New York police Chief Phillip Banks said . Chen , through an interpreter , also said he used a butcher 's knife , which was retrieved from the apartment where the crime took place , Banks said . Police are still trying to understand what could have set off Chen , who had been staying with the family for about a week before the stabbings in the Sunset Park neighborhood , Officer Sophia Tassy-Mason said . `` He made very soft comments that since he 's been in this country , everyone seems to be doing better than him , '' Banks said . Chen , who has no criminal record in New York City , has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder , as well as criminal possession of a weapon , Tassy-Mason said . Chen also allegedly assaulted an officer who processed his arrest , which added the charges of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest , Banks said . Police identified the victims as Qiao Zhen Li , 37 , whose husband is Chen 's cousin ; Linda Zhuo , 9 ; Amy Zhuo , 7 ; Kevin Zhuo , 5 ; and William Zhuo , 1 . All five were stabbed in their upper bodies , police said . Three of the children died at the scene , and the other victims were pronounced dead at nearby hospitals , police said . Chen 's last known address is in Chicago , and he has moved a lot since immigrating to the United States from China in 2004 , Banks said . The mother of four was at home alone with her young children and Chen on Saturday when she noticed Chen acting suspiciously , Banks said . When she was unable to call her husband , who was at work , Li called her mother-in-law , who lives in China , he said . Li 's mother-in-law alerted her daughter , who arrived at the home with her husband to check on the family . After banging on the door for some time , they told police Chen finally opened the door covered in blood , Banks said .
Chen is ordered held without bail . Chen , about a week , is accused killing a woman and her one children in Brooklyn . He 'd been staying with the family for 25 in the Sunset Park neighborhood , police say . Police : He 's accused of murder , assault , resisting arrest , criminal possession of a weapon .