A 2-year-old girl was critically injured after a man allegedly attacked her and her mother at a Providence bus stop in Rhode Island. The suspect, 46-year-old Nelson Blanco, was arrested after police found him hiding in the basement of a nearby home. Authorities say Blanco had previously been found incompetent to stand trial in cases involving attacks on two children in 2003 and a separate domestic violence matter this year. He is being held without bail pending a competency hearing.
| Article Subheadings | |
|---|---|
| 1) | Attack at a Providence bus stop |
| 2) | Arrest and criminal charges |
| 3) | Earlier case involving two children |
| 4) | Survivors describe lasting injuries |
| 5) | Competency review and public concerns |
Attack at a Providence bus stop
Police said the attack occurred Wednesday afternoon near Broad and Public streets in Providence. The mother was waiting with her daughter in a stroller for her other children to return on a school bus when Blanco allegedly approached and made insulting comments. The woman crossed the street to create distance, but investigators said Blanco followed her and attacked the toddler with a knife.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed the mother and child trying to move away before Blanco grabbed the stroller and struck the girl repeatedly. A bystander attempted to intervene, and police said Blanco also tried to stab that person before fleeing. The toddler was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in critical condition. Her mother suffered a shoulder wound and was treated before being released.
Arrest and criminal charges
Officers located Blanco hiding in the basement of a nearby home. Police said they recovered a knife from a panel box and that Blanco admitted to the stabbings during questioning. Investigators also reported that he told detectives the assault stopped because the group was on a main street.
“If I was on a side street, I would have killed them. Both of them,” Blanco allegedly told detectives, according to a police report.
Blanco faces six charges, including two counts identified by police as assault with intent to commit murder, felony assault, breaking and entering into an occupied dwelling belonging to a person age 60 or older, and two weapons charges. No plea was entered during his court appearance in Rhode Island’s 6th Division District Court. The court appointed a public defender and requested a competency evaluation.
Earlier case involving two children
The new arrest revived a 2003 case involving Andy Lopez and Dave Belony, who were 6 and 7 years old when they were attacked while playing in Lopez’s backyard. Court records show Blanco faced two felony assault charges and a weapons charge connected to that incident.
The records also contain repeated findings that Blanco was incompetent to stand trial from September 2004 through March 2006. Several entries stated that the defendant remained incompetent, while the case was still listed as under review in the court portal. The earlier attack reportedly began when Blanco emerged from a shed behind the home where he had been living.
Survivors describe lasting injuries
Dave Belony said he recognized Blanco after seeing his booking photograph following the latest arrest. Belony recalled being trapped near a tree and stabbed while trying to protect himself. He said the attack caused injuries to his stomach, back and ribs and continues to affect him emotionally.
Andy Lopez said Blanco stabbed him twice near the eye after turning toward him. Lopez permanently lost sight in his left eye, and he and Belony said both children spent about three months recovering and underwent at least three surgeries each.
“He was given a chance 23 years ago, and 23 years later, he did the same thing,” Lopez said.
Competency review and public concerns
Blanco was also found incompetent to stand trial in July in a separate domestic violence case, according to reporting based on court records. A judge accepted a doctor’s recommendation that he remain in outpatient treatment because he was considered unlikely at that time to endanger himself or the community.
Following the Providence stabbing, Blanco is being held without bail while awaiting a competency hearing later this month. The new evaluation will address whether he is able to understand the proceedings and assist in his defense. The case has renewed concern among the earlier victims about how competency decisions and treatment arrangements address public safety while protecting defendants’ legal rights.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | A toddler and her mother were allegedly attacked near a Providence school bus stop. |
| 2 | Nelson Blanco faces six charges and is being held without bail. |
| 3 | Court records show earlier findings that Blanco was incompetent to stand trial. |
| 4 | Two survivors of the 2003 attack described permanent injuries and continuing trauma. |
| 5 | A competency hearing is expected later this month. |
Summary
The Providence case combines allegations of a serious attack on a toddler with a documented history of competency proceedings involving the same suspect. Investigators, prosecutors and the court will now determine the facts of the new charges and whether Blanco is competent to proceed. The earlier victims’ accounts have added urgency to questions about treatment, accountability and community safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was injured in the Providence attack?
A 2-year-old girl was critically injured, and her mother suffered a shoulder wound. Both were allegedly attacked near Broad and Public streets.
What charges does Nelson Blanco face?
Blanco faces six charges, including assault with intent to commit murder, felony assault, breaking and entering, and two weapons charges.
Why is a competency hearing being held?
Blanco has previously been found incompetent to stand trial in other cases. The court requested a new evaluation to determine whether he understands the proceedings and can assist in his defense.
