Random Act Of Violence: Michigan Man Breaks Into Home, Stabs 11-Year-Old

In an apparently random attack, a man broke into a home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and repeatedly stabbed an 11-year-old boy. The child survived after being rushed to a local hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The attacker was tracked down and taken into custody.

“I was literally in a deep sleep, and his screams woke me up,” Yahira Suarez, the boy’s mother, said in an interview. “I turned on the light and there was just blood everywhere, blood in his face, it was just like it was a crime scene or something.”

Police responded to a call about the incident at around 3 a.m. K-9 units were used to track down the attacker, and he was found roughly 30 minutes after the break-in. Denny William McNees, 21, now faces charges of home invasion and assault with intent to murder.

Police Sgt. John Wittkowksli the attack was entirely random. The Suarez home was unlocked at the time of the Thursday morning attack. McNees reportedly attempted similar break-ins at other houses and apartments with no success. His bond was set at $500,000 and he is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.

Suarez said her son, who her son has a high-functioning form of autism, was stabbed 10 times, and it was unclear how he was processing the trauma of the incident.

“Four times in the back of the head and I want to say four times all around his face,” Suarez explained. “One [thrusts] was so hard that the knife broke in his mouth.”