Police are searching for the man they say is responsible for killing a woman and two of her children on Staten Island. NY1's Lori Chung filed the following report.

Residents at the Ramada Inn in Willowbrook were stunned after the stabbing deaths of 26-year-old Rebecca Cutler and two of her children, an attack that left another little girl clinging to life.

"That could have been my son. Could have been my little brother," said one resident.

One woman says her daughter heard the commotion early Wednesday morning.

"She just heard people in the hallway, people in the hallway screaming and the cops screaming," the woman said.

Police say Michael Sykes stabbed Cutler, the baby daughter they shared together and her two other children shortly after going to breakfast with the victims.

"We find him going into the room about 8:50 in the morning. He leaves about four minutes later. So we believe that’s when the attack happens," said NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce.

"All four had suffered stab wounds and were immediately transported to Richmond University Medical Center," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "Very sorry to say that the mother was pronounced dead on arrival."

Four-month-old Maiyah Sykes and 1-year-old Ziana Cutler also succumbed to their injuries. Their 2-year-old sister was critically injured.

"This guy's an animal. He needs to be caught. There's no excuse for what he did," said one person at the scene.

Officials say Cutler was homeless and was placed here by the city in lieu of shelter housing two months ago.

"She used to say hi to me, say hi to my son," said one resident. "She seemed sweet and stuff."

Sykes lived in the Howard Houses in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, where police searched for clues Wednesday evening.

Few here on Staten Island noticed any problems with cutler but did have concerns about safety.

"You could expect anything to happen here when you have no security," said one resident.

The Department of Homeless Services moved families out of the Ramada after the killings. City officials vowed to boost security at shelter sights from now on.

"There is nothing more horrible than the notion of an adult who would attack an innocent child," de Blasio said. "This is an atrocious crime."

Police say they found a bloody kitchen knife at the scene. They believe that is the weapon.

Meanwhile, the 2-year-old girl who survived this was listed in critical but stable condition at last check.

The investigation continues.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.crimestoppers.com.