A Long Island man has been arrested and charged attempted murder and related crimes after slashing a woman multiple times with a kitchen knife and attacking a 9-year-old who attempted to stop the attack, authorities announced Wednesday.
Milton Mendez, 45, allegedly got into an argument with a 39-year-old woman in Uniondale late Tuesday night. As the argument escalated, Mendez “grabbed a kitchen knife and slashed the victim multiple times in the face and on her hands,” investigators with the Nassau County Police Department said in a news release.
When a 9-year-old girl who witnessed the argument tried to intervene, Mendez allegedly “grabbed her around the neck and applied pressure, making it difficult for her to breathe,” then proceeded to punch her in the head, investigators said.
As the young victim continued to try to get the knife away from Mendez, he allegedly cut both of her hands.
The 9-year-old and a 17-year-old female, who wasn’t involved in the attack, were able to escape the home and call 911.
When officers arrived at the scene, they heard the 39-year-old “screaming for help” and saw Mendez “exit the kitchen and [enter] a hallway holding a knife covered in blood.”
After initially refusing to comply with orders to drop the weapon, Mendez was disarmed and placed under arrest.
He’s since been charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal obstruction of breathing.
Both victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment and are said to be in stable condition, according to police.
It was not immediately clear how the suspect and the two victims are related.
Mendez pleaded not guilty at his arraignment early on Wednesday and has been remanded without bail. He’s expected back in court on Friday.