PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A 2-year-old girl remains in critical condition following a violent stabbing on Wednesday afternoon in Providence.
Police have arrested 46-year-old Nelson Blanco in connection with the attack, which occurred shortly before 2:00 p.m. near the intersection of Broad Street and Public Street. Officers responding to the scene discovered the toddler and her mother suffering from severe stab wounds to their faces and upper bodies.
Details of the Incident
According to Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez, the victim was waiting near 726 Broad Street for her other children to get off the school bus when Blanco initially approached her, making insulting comments. Seeking to distance herself and her daughter, who was in a stroller, the mother crossed the street.
Blanco allegedly approached the mother a second time, renewed the verbal harassment, and then violently attacked the child with a knife. The mother reported that Blanco grabbed her during the altercation, prompting bystanders at the scene to intervene before the suspect fled.
One witness chased after Blanco and alerted police that the suspect had broken into a home on Daboll Street. Perez stated that a woman was in the kitchen at the time, but Blanco ran past her and locked himself in the basement. The resident was not hurt.
Several officers soon forced their way inside the residence, where Blanco was located and taken into custody.
Pending Charges and Extensive Criminal Record
Blanco now faces multiple felony charges, including:
- Two counts of assault with intent to commit murder
- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Breaking and entering into the dwelling of someone over the age of 60
- Possession of a knife while committing a crime of violence
- Possession of a knife with a blade longer than 3 inches
During a police interview, Perez stated that Blanco admitted to the attack, though his motive remains unclear.
Court records and published reports detail an extensive criminal history for Blanco dating back to 1998, which includes domestic assault charges, probation violations, drug-related offenses, breaking and entering, and vehicle theft allegations. Notably, records indicate Blanco was previously arrested in 2003 in connection with the stabbing of two 7-year-old children in Providence, a case in which he was reportedly found incompetent to stand trial.
More recently, Blanco faced felony domestic violence charges in North Providence in 2024.
Competency Evaluation and Mental Health History
In July 2025, Blanco was released into the custody of the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH).
In connection with his 2024 domestic violence case, a judge found Blanco incompetent to stand trial this past July. However, the court accepted a medical evaluation recommending he be placed on outpatient status, concluding he was “not likely to imperil the peace and safety of the community or himself at this time.”
At a court appearance on Thursday following Wednesday’s attack, no plea was entered, and Blanco was ordered held as a bail violator.
