Authorities: Man repeatedly stabs young son during standoff

NORTH VERSAILLES, Pa. – A Pennsylvania man repeatedly stabbed and critically injured his 4-year-old son during a standoff with police that ended when officers stormed the home, authorities said Saturday.

North Versailles police had initially gone to the home just before 10 p.m. Friday when Syneca Ashley Sr., 28, and the child’s mother were involved in a nonviolent domestic dispute.

The woman soon left the residence, leaving the boy with his father. But she called 911 about 30 minutes later and said Ashley had called her and threatened to kill the child.

Police then returned to the home, but Ashley refused to speak with them and barricaded himself inside the residence. An Allegheny County SWAT team was called in, but authorities said Ashley became markedly more agitated as negotiations continued overnight and made continuous threats to hurt and/or kill the child.

Ashley became irate around 3:20 a.m. Saturday and the child could be heard screaming and being struck. The SWAT team then entered the home, got the child to safety and arrested Ashley without further incident.

The child had multiple stab wounds to the chest and was flown to a hospital. He was listed in critical but stable condition. He is expected to survive, authorities said.

The father was charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, child endangerment and terroristic threats. It wasn’t known Saturday if he had retained an attorney.

North Versailles is about 14 miles (22 kilometres) east of Pittsburgh.