Mother, children stabbed by would-be rapist, police say

A Reno mother and her two children are recovering from a knife attack by a neighbor who also is accused of sexually assaulting one of her daughters.

Police on Monday said the 35-year-old woman, her 8-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son each was stabbed in the neck. The children also were stabbed in the abdomen.

Thirty-seven year old Eric Williamson was arrested after the Friday night attack. He is jailed on suspicion of attempted murder, two counts of battery and sexual assault of a minor.

Police allege Williamson went to the apartment and said he was going to rape the woman’s daughter. The woman began to fight him and grabbed a knife, cutting him in the arm, police said.

Police said he took the knife away and used it against her and the children.