Waukesha Police: Woman lucky to be alive after stabbing at barbecue

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) – Waukesha Police say a woman is lucky to be alive after being stabbed during a barbecue over the weekend.

The accused appeared in court Tuesday.

Neighbors say their neighbor was stabbed by her husband Saturday evening during a barbecue. They say several kids were outside and saw what happened.

Dash cam video shows police taking Javier Cruz into custody at the scene. He’s now charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide after stabbing his estranged wife in the back.

On Tuesday, Cruz was back in Waukesha County court for a hearing.

Police say during a barbecue with neighbors, Javier showed up at the house and stabbed the woman in the back with a nine-inch kitchen knife.

Officers say Javier later told them he was mad about paying child support and that he was “tired of it.”

Police say the victim is lucky to be alive.

“The angle at which the blade entered was not the usual stabbing motion. The way it entered was low and came up high so it missed most of her vital organs,” said Lt. Kevin Rice with the Waukesha Police Department.

Lt. Rice says her injuries are threatening but she is in stable condition.

Donations for the woman can be made at any Waukesha State Bank branch location or by mail to:

Waukesha State Bank

Attn: The Cruz Benefit Fund

PO Box 648

Waukesha, WI 53187-0648