Background: The 4500 block of Southwest 23rd Terrace in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Google Maps). Inset: Daquan Delancy (Broward County Sheriff”s Office).
An 8-year-old girl from Florida is being hailed as a hero for her quick actions that potentially saved her mother’s life during a violent incident involving a knife attack by her stepfather, according to police reports.
Daquan Delancy, 30, is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated child abuse. Court documents confirm that Delancy is currently held without bond in the Broward County Jail.
The incident unfolded on Wednesday afternoon at a residence on the 4500 block of Southwest 23rd Terrace in Fort Lauderdale. Authorities report that Delancy and his wife were engaged in a heated argument outside their home, which escalated into physical violence.
According to reports from Miami’s NBC affiliate WTVJ, Delancy allegedly rendered his wife unconscious and threatened her with a knife.
“She was unconscious,” shared Tracey Linnen, the woman’s father, who was away celebrating his birthday when the incident occurred. “He was attempting to kill her,” Linnen told the outlet.
As Delancy reportedly raised the knife to attack, the couple’s 8-year-old daughter bravely intervened, stepping in to protect her mother, authorities stated.
“He was coming down with the knife and the baby grabbed the knife, so he snatched it and … she got cut open, all the way to the bone,” said a clearly emotional Linnen.
Police responded to the residence and arrested Delancy. The mother and daughter were taken to area hospitals to be treated, with their family telling the local outlet on Thursday that they both were doing well.
The investigation was ongoing on Thursday. Court records do not yet list a scheduled hearing date for Delancy.
