A 12-year-old Texas boy is accused of stabbing a 59-year-old woman inside her Houston home, leaving her critically injured, according to reports.
The assault happened Saturday on April Valley Court, the Harris County Sheriff's Department said.
The pre-teen was riding his bike with another boy, 7, when they got into a verbal altercation with the woman, according to authorities.
Video from a security camera showed the boys riding off but returning a few minutes later wearing gloves, alternately described in local reports as rubber or surgical gloves.
The boys were seen running up the driveway to the woman's home, where the 12-year-old allegedly stabbed her, according to local outlet KPRC.
The boys then rode off on their bikes, according to reports.
The victim's brother found her when he came to her house for a regular visit.
A helicopter flew the stabbing victim to a hospital where she was reportedly in critical condition.
Authorities later located the boys, taking both into custody, the sheriff's office said.
The children, ages 7 and 12, have been located. The female has been taken by Lifeflight to another hospital. https://t.co/jznFbiEYhL
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) March 23, 2024
The older boy has been charged with aggravated assault, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Sunday.
The younger child "is not culpable by law" and will not be charged, Gonzalez said.
Neither child was publicly identified by name.
Authorities and neighbors told local outlet KHOU that the victim has a history of mental health issues that may have played a role in the initial confrontation with the children.
"We try to keep patience," neighbor Maddy Monsalve told KHOU. "We are understanding even though it's very frustrating and we all have to call the cops, not just me, other neighbors have too, we try to have patience."
"I think these kids just didn't know any better," Monsalve added to KPRC. "So they retaliated."
The incident is the second time in a week that kids were alleged to have committed a violent crime in Harris County.
Three children, nicknamed the "Little Rascals" by the FBI, were arrested Tuesday in connection with a bank robbery.
