Mother, 2 young children stabbed, critically injured in East Orange apartment
EAST ORANGE, New Jersey (WABC) -- A man has been arrested after a mother and her child were critically injured in a stabbing in an East Orange apartment.
Jihad Hagler, 27, of Newark was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
The victims were attacked inside a second-floor apartment at La Ferrera Apartments on Park Avenue around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday.
All three were taken to University Hospital in Newark with stab wounds. The mother and one of the children suffered life-threatening injuries. The other child is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Neighbors told Eyewitness News the victims are a mother and her two young children, ages 1 and 3 - and that one of those children just celebrated a birthday this week.
"I am in complete and utter shock... and my heart is breaking right now," said one resident. "I can't believe it. What have we come to? Two children and a mom? I don't know what's setting people off to do something like that."
We are told the mother is in her twenties and has lived in the building her entire life.
Neighbors reported just seeing her Wednesday with her children, and that all were in a celebratory mood following that birthday celebration.
"I've been involved 20 years on and nothing like that never happened," added the same resident. "Never. I ain't never seen nothing like this."
There has been no word on what may have led to the stabbing.
The incident is being investigated by East Orange Police.
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