Dad stabs to death 6-year-old daughter; mom wounded (South Bend, Indiana)

UNNAMED DAD

http://www.indystar.com/viewart/20130602/NEWS02/306020020/Police-kill-South-Bend-man-stabbing-girl-6

Police kill South Bend man stabbing girl, 6

Jun. 2, 2013 | Joe Vitti / The Star

Written by Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, IND. — A South Bend man fatally stabbed his 6-year-old daughter and wounded his wife Sunday before police officers forced their way into his apartment and shot him to death.

Police went to the apartment for a reported domestic disturbance and found a woman in the parking lot covered with blood who said her daughter was inside the apartment with her husband, WNDU-TV and WSBT-TV reported.

“Officers tried to call the suspect out by name several times to get him to come out of the apartment, at which point they heard a young girl screaming inside,” said Lt. Dave Wells, assistant commander of the Metro Homicide Unit. “Officers, fearing for the safety of that child and others who may have been in the apartment, they forced entry, kicking in the door to apartment 1B.”

To stop the attack, one of the officers shot the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene, Wells said.

The girl was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, Wells said. Wells said the mother also several cuts and stab wounds, but was expected to survive.

Police haven’t released their names. Neighbors told WSBT family was originally from Kenya and moved to South Bend area two years ago.

Officers did not say what led to the attack.

Wells said the case was difficult for officers on scene — there were large amounts of blood in the hall and on the walls — especially those with young children. “Any case we get down here is a tragedy and it’s difficult to deal with, but when you’re dealing with children who become victims of homicide, any kind of abuse, you have to stay focused,” Wells said.

Neighbor Derek Ayres told WNDU he arrived home from working an overnight shift and was shocked by the scene.

“It’s kind of scary because I go to work at night and who knows what can happen to my girlfriend and child when I’m not home,” Ayres said.