Seven-year-old girl’s incredible response after 73-year-old man slit her throat with a knife in a kids’ play park
A brave seven-year-old girl has spoken out about the moment a man slit her throat while playing in a Detroit park.
In an interview with WXYZ, Saida Mashrah recounted the incident Tuesday incident in which a 73-year-old man allegedly attacked her in Ryan Park.
Saida said she was plying on a ‘spinning thing that was green’ when she saw her attacker. She said she greeted him with a simple ‘hi,’ as he continued in her direction.
‘One hand was nothing. And he just put my head up. The other thing was a pocket knife. And then, he just slide the knife on my throat,’ said Saida, who gave her assailant a ‘medium hard’ kick to escape.
The young girl then screamed for help and ran, blood pouring from her neck.
Neighbors who heard her screaming ran to her aid.
A brave seven-year-old girl has spoken out about the moment a man slit her throat while playing in Detroit Park
Gary Lansky, 73, has been accused of slitting Saida’s throat
‘I just immediately … grabbed some gauze pads, and put them on her … to help her and help her stop bleeding,’ said Donna Mockbil. ‘She goes, “Oh, I’m going to die and nobody is going to be here with me,” and I started getting tears in my eyes.’
Mockbil’s son pursued the suspect until cops were able to apprehend him.
Saida was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.
The suspect was identified as Gary Lansky, who has been charge with attempted murder and assault.
While the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said there is no evidence that what Lansky allegedly did was a hate crime, the Michigan chapter of the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) believes the case should be investigated as such.
Police say they believe Lansky’s alleged attack was a reflection of a mental health crisis he was going through, as reported to officers by his family.
As for Saida, she is scheduled for therapy, and her stitches in her neck are reported to be removed in a week.
‘I only get two hours of sleep. It’s like he’s coming back to get them, get my other children. I feel so scared,’ her mom, Amirah Sharhan, told CBS Detroit.
‘They said that she’s lucky, she’s very lucky. It was really deep, the cut.’
The attack occurred in Ryan Park in Detroit while Saida was playing
A red bracelet inscribed with the word “Love” now adorns the young survivor’s wrist.
Lanky’s bond is currently set to $2 million.
He is to appear in court on October 16.
