A man in North Carolina allegedly broke into his former wife’s house and began stabbing the woman’s 13-year-old daughter before police fatally shot him, the Charlotte Observer reports.

The incident occurred on Saturday night in the Ballantyne neighborhood of Charlotte. According to WCNC-TV, the man and his ex-wife were arguing when he forced his way inside the residence. The ex-wife was able to escape, but the woman’s daughter was still inside.

When police officers arrived, the man was holding the girl hostage and had a knife to her, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said at a news conference, according to the Observer.

Inexplicably, the man then began stabbing the girl, so officers shot and killed the man.

“The officers were trying to deescalate the situation” when the man began stabbing the 13-year-old “without warning,” Jennings said, the Observer reports.

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“They were met with something that horrific, to see a 13-year-old getting stabbed, and they were left with no choice,” Jennings said, according to the Observer. “The motive to stab a 13-year-old is something that is beyond comprehension for us.”

The victim suffered multiple stab wounds and was rushed to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, the Observer reports. Her condition was not available as of Sunday morning.

Medics pronounced the man dead at the scene. His identity has not been released, nor has his relationship with the girl.

No officers were injured, WBTV reports.

“We never want to see a case like this end up where anyone is injured or, much less, killed, but I think our officers did what they had to do,” Jennings told WSOC-TV. “They were heroic in their actions, however, it did not turn out the way we’d like it to.”

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