A man allegedly stabbed a 2-year-old in her stroller at a bus stop, and police say he was accused of stabbing 2 other kids years ago and released

Nelson Blanco is currently in custody following an attack on a mother and her young daughter at a bus stop in Providence, Rhode Island. The 46-year-old man allegedly approached the pair while the mother was waiting for her other children to finish school. The 2-year-old girl is now fighting for her life after the incident, while her mother has been released from the hospital following treatment for stab wounds to her body and face.

As reported by the NY Post, Police Chief Oscar Perez explained that the attacker, who appears to be homeless, did not know the victims before the encounter. Blanco allegedly began shouting insults at the woman, and when she attempted to cross the street to escape him, he grabbed her and initiated the attack. Bystanders eventually intervened, causing Blanco to flee the scene. He was later discovered hiding in the basement of an elderly woman’s home after he broke into the property.

Court records reveal a nearly 30-year rap sheet linked to Nelson Blanco involving various charges, including assault and battery, breaking and entering, and possession of a stolen vehicle. Back in 2003, Blanco was reportedly charged with stabbing two 7-year-old boys who were playing in a parking lot. 

He was also arrested for domestic violence 

That case did not result in a trial because he was deemed incompetent. In 2018, he faced charges for possession of a stolen vehicle, and once again, he was found incompetent to stand trial. According to court documents, the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals has identified that he has an Intellectual Disability Disorder and Schizophrenia.

Blanco was reportedly arrested for domestic violence in 2024 and was released in 2025 into the custody of state health and human services. When asked about why he was free to be on the street, Police Chief Oscar Perez stated, “I don’t think the system is broken,” but he also made sure to emphasize that the primary role of law enforcement is to “present the facts to the judicial system” and allow the courts to deliver justice.

Blanco is now facing a serious list of charges, including two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and breaking and entering. The Providence Police Department confirmed that the toddler remains in critical condition.