HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — The mother of a 12-year-old boy who is charged with aggravated assault after allegedly stabbing a woman Saturday afternoon in northwest Harris County is speaking out.
Another child connected to the stabbing, a 7-year-old boy, is not facing charges because he is "not culpable by law," according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
The sheriff's office said the two children, who are siblings, had gone back to the woman's home after an earlier possible confrontation, which led to the stabbing.
The victim’s brother was the one who came by and found the 59-year-old woman in the garage with stab wounds.
Family members and investigators said that both the 12-year-old suspect and victim are dealing with their own form of mental illness.
"My boys don’t mean harm. I’m sorry this incident happened. I’m not going to use my son’s mental condition as an excuse for his behavior because I do believe in accountability," the suspect's mother, who asked to remain anonymous, said.
Surveillance video shared by a neighbor captured most of what happened. In the video, you can see the victim standing in her driveway, arguing with two boys on bicycles. A neighbor appears to ask the boys to leave the woman alone.
After the initial confrontation, the boys come back on their bicycles with surgical gloves and a knife. The video shows the 12-year-old run into the garage and then both boys leave the scene.
Neighbors told KHOU 11 News that confrontations with the victim have apparently happened before.
"It's been a constant issue. I’ve had to call the cops at least 5 times already," Maddy Monsalve, a longtime neighbor, said. "We know to give her space and leave her alone, but I think these kids didn’t know any better.
The suspect's mother said her son can be very protective of his siblings.
"If something triggers him he gets very upsetting, he does get very upsetting," she said.
While her son remains in custody, her other son is at home, still trying to grasp what happened.
The victim is still in the hospital. The family is hoping the woman recovers from this incident.
"I wish I could see the lady and give her a hug because I really never expect my children to do harm to anybody," the mother said.
Texas state law states that the youngest a juvenile can be charged with a serious crime is at the age of 10.