Child Grabs Kitchen Knife And Stabs Man For Strangling Mother, Attacking Them

A child in Florida has allegedly stabbed a 39-year-old man who strangled their mother and attacked them and their sibling.

The man, identified as Donald Terrence Parker, the mother's boyfriend, is expected to survive and is facing charges for choking the woman during the domestic dispute.

Parker attacked his girlfriend and then her two children inside at a Dade City address Tuesday, officials reportedly said. The woman's two children, aged 12 and 16, were present when Parker strangled her until she passed out.

When one of the children tried to intervene, Parker attacked both of them with a broom handle and struck them several times, according to WESH 2 News.

One of the children got hold of a kitchen knife and allegedly stabbed Parker to fight him off, officials said, as per the outlet.

Parker fled the scene after a neighbor called 911 and informed officials about a domestic disturbance turning violent.

Dade City police officers and Pasco County deputies arrived at the scene and learned about the stabbing. They located Parker a short distance away from the area and took him to a hospital with stab wounds.

Parker's injuries were life-threatening. However, he is now expected to make a full recovery after undergoing surgery.

Following his release, Parker is expected to be booked into jail on charges relating to choking his girlfriend. He was charged with domestic aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in April, just weeks before Tuesday's attack, court documents reportedly revealed.

Mindy Murphy, president and CEO of The Spring of Tampa Bay, which helps survivors of domestic violence, said children who witness such instances of domestic violence are also victims.

"It's really important that we don't send messages that we expect children to be the ones intervening. Sometimes, they're going to write because of the circumstances, but they shouldn't feel like it's their responsibility to do that," Murphy told ABC Action News.

Tabitha Taylor-Stevens, a neighbor of Parker's girlfriend, said she could not do anything when the man strangled the woman and attacked her children, both of whom were not related to Parker.

"I couldn't even do anything yesterday. I just cried. You know, I was in the hospital for a year for domestic violence ... When I saw that yesterday, it brought me to tears because I was her. She is me," Taylor-Stevens told the outlet.

"I just pray for them. I keep them in my prayers all the time. I keep all my neighbors in my prayers and I just hope that eventually they will get some peace," Taylor-Stevens added.