12-Year-Old Wisconsin Boy Faces Intentional Homicide Charge After Stabbing Younger Brother

A 12-year-old boy in far northwestern Wisconsin is facing an attempted intentional homicide charge after allegedly stabbing his brother several times.

The older boy was accused of stabbing his 7-year-old sibling three times — once in the back, twice in the abdomen, and once in the chest on Jan. 11, NBC-affiliated WMTV reported. It noted that the incident took place while the pair was at a house in Solon Springs, about 45 miles south of Duluth, Minnesota.

The unidentified victim survived the attack and told authorities that his elder brother had even placed a pillow over his face in an attempt to mute his screams.

During the preliminary ruling Wednesday in an adult court, WMTV reported that the judge said the 12-year-old could be charged for attacking his younger brother. Whether or not the boy should be charged is set to be decided during a hearing scheduled for March 5.

The accused is currently being held at the Northwest Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Eau Claire, the outlet reported.

As per Wisconsin law, juveniles over the age of 10 who have attempted first or second-degree murder or reckless homicide are subject to adult court supervision.

In a similar incident in June 2020, a 12-year-old boy in Texas was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being stabbed by his 9-year-old sibling twice in the back. Preliminary investigation revealed that the siblings were fighting over a blanket when the younger brother picked up a large kitchen knife and attacked the victim. The accused was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation and was spared charges due to his age.