Long Island home invasion suspect assaults 85-year-old woman before family members intervene, police say

COLD SPRING HARBOR, Long Island (WABC) -- It was a frightening evening for a family on Long Island that had just finished Thanksgiving dinner.

A stranger entered an unlocked side door of the home on Fox Hunt Lane in Cold Spring Harbor at approximately 11 p.m., according to police.

Authorities say the suspect, identified as Jeffrey Rice found a kitchen knife in the house and went upstairs into a room occupied by a 7-year-old girl and her 85-year-old aunt, then assaulted the woman before exiting the room and being confronted by the 35-year-old female homeowner.

After a brief verbal altercation with the homeowner, and a brief physical altercation with her 37-year-old husband, Rice was escorted outside the house by the husband and his brother and brother-in-law. The family held Rice outside, until police arrived.

The 85-year-old-woman was transported to Huntington Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The 7-year-old girl was not hurt.

Rice, 45, of Huntington Station, is charged with first-degree burglary.