PROVIDENCE, RI — A 2-year-old girl and her mother were stabbed in Providence on Wednesday afternoon, and police say a 46-year-old man is now in custody.
Authorities identified the suspect as Nelson Blanco and said he faces several charges tied to the attack near Broad and Public streets. Police did not immediately say what they believe led to the stabbings.
The injured woman and child were taken after the attack, but officials have not released details about their conditions. Police planned to give an update Thursday morning before Blanco’s arraignment.
Police identify Nelson Blanco and announce charges tied to the attack
Providence police said Blanco faces charges including assault with intent to commit murder, breaking and entering, and possession of a knife. The arrest came after officers took a suspect into custody near the scene shortly after the stabbings.
The incident was reported around 1:20 p.m., according to police. The location, near the intersection of Broad and Public streets, sits in a busy part of the city where emergency crews were quickly dispatched after the violence was reported.
Police have not outlined how they say the confrontation began or what role, if any, the location played in the attack. Those questions were expected to remain part of the case as investigators prepared for the next court step.
Mother and child’s conditions were not released after the stabbing
Officials did not immediately share how badly the mother and 2-year-old girl were hurt. That left key questions unanswered as the case moved quickly from the crime scene to an arrest and upcoming arraignment.
In incidents involving young victims, police often wait to release more medical information until families are notified and investigators have a clearer picture of what happened. Here, officers stuck to a limited set of facts and did not discuss a motive.
The lack of detail made the arrest the clearest immediate development, but it also left the public waiting for confirmation on the condition of both victims and any additional charges that might follow.
Case update expected before Blanco’s arraignment Thursday morning
Police said they were set to provide an update Thursday morning, before Blanco’s arraignment. That timing suggests investigators were continuing to piece together the sequence of events while prosecutors prepared the case for court.
The charges already announced indicate authorities believe the stabbing was serious enough to warrant an intent-to-kill allegation. The inclusion of a breaking and entering count also points to a possible earlier entry or intrusion, though police did not explain that part publicly.
At this stage, the arraignment is expected to be a key moment for hearing the formal accusations and learning whether any further facts are made public in court.
Mayor Brett Smiley calls the stabbing a senseless act of violence
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley responded in a statement, calling the stabbings a “senseless act of violence.” He also thanked first responders for what he described as a quick response.
The mayor’s comments reflected the shock surrounding the attack, especially because a toddler was among the victims. His statement, reported by WJAR, added a city leadership response to what had already become a fast-moving criminal case.
Even without a stated motive, the facts available Wednesday painted a grim picture: a midday stabbing, a young child hurt, and a suspect arrested near the scene within a short period of time.
What is known and what investigators still have not said
By Wednesday evening, police had identified the suspect, the general location, and the charges they planned to pursue. They had not yet said what started the violence or whether the mother and daughter knew Blanco.
Investigators also had not provided a condition update on either victim. That left the most urgent questions centered on their recovery, the circumstances before the attack, and what evidence officers say led them to make the arrest.
For now, the case stands as one of the city’s most serious recent violent incidents, with court proceedings and the expected Thursday update likely to provide the next answers.
Local news that matters, from Dulaney Griffin.
