A Colorado mother was hospitalized this week after her boyfriend’s ex-lover allegedly stabbed her in the throat multiple times.

Police in Center, a small town in the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado, say that Shianne Silva faces a first-degree assault charge in the attack on Alyssa Castanuela, KRDO reported.

According to court documents, Silva and Castanuela were arguing when Castanuela was “suddenly struck through the vehicle window by Shianne,” Castanuela told investigators.

A neighbor tried to pull Silva away, and told police that the attacker tried to “swipe” at her and that she nearly hit both Castanuela and her two children when she drove away.

Jessica Barbosa, the neighbor who tried to intervene, told KRDO she heard Silva yelling at Castanuela before she began stabbing her in the neck with her car keys.

“She went for her neck first. She was pounding her,” Barbosa said.

When police caught up with Silva later, she told them that she was “defending herself” when she hit Castanuela, not realizing she had her keys in her hand.

Silva was booked into the Saguache County Jail and later released on a $25,000 personal recognizance bond.

Family and friends — include Barbosa — are upset that Silva was released from jail and have called for her to be charged with attempted murder.

“My whole thing is the severity of it. It’s not just a girl fight,” Barbosa said.

Center Police Chief Dale Meek said in a statement that the assault charge was appropriate “based upon the probable cause existing at the time.”

“Please keep in mind that the investigation did not conclude with the arrest and further developments have occurred since that time such as the victim’s full extent of injuries,” he said. “There are other factors I cannot release because of the need to collect further evidence.”

Meek said that his department’s full report will be sent to the district attorney, who will file formal charges.

Castanuela’s family set up a GoFundMe to help allay expenses.

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[Featured image: Alyssa Castanuela/Facebook]