12-year-old Bronx girl survives surgery after being stabbed by her stepdad and having a nail removed from her nose.
A 12-year-old girl from the Bronx is reported to have survived a traumatic incident that involved brutal aggression from her stepfather, resulting in a severe injury and a complex emergency medical procedure. The girl underwent life-saving surgery to address a critical injury, wherein a screw was inserted into her brain. Her stepfather, identified as Joshua Burnside, has been taken into custody following the incident and has reportedly attempted to harm himself while in detention.
The violent episode unfolded on October 22 around 11:15 PM during a domestic dispute in a sixth-floor apartment located on East 173rd Street in the Crotona Park East neighborhood. According to law enforcement sources, the conflict escalated after Burnside’s ex-wife attempted to defend herself with a knife. However, Burnside forcibly took the knife from her and inflicted serious injuries, including a stab wound to her abdomen and slashes to her face.
In the chaos that ensued, Burnside turned his aggression toward his stepdaughter, stabbing her multiple times. The ex-wife, who fled the apartment, heard her daughter’s desperate cries for help. Neighbors reported witnessing her frantic attempts to seek assistance, revealing her injuries and her fear for her child’s safety.
After the assault, law enforcement apprehended Burnside without incident. He was charged with several offenses, including assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Burnside was subsequently transported to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation, where he reportedly made a suicide attempt. This incident has delayed his initial court appearance in Bronx Criminal Court.
The ex-wife received treatment at Jacobi Medical Center for her injuries, while her two younger children, who were unharmed during the event, were also assessed. Meanwhile, the 12-year-old girl was admitted to Cohen Children’s Medical Center, where she underwent critical surgery to remove the screw from her brain. She is currently in critical but stable condition.
Sources indicate that Burnside was not listed on any legal documents related to the apartment and was not authorized to reside there. Neighbors expressed surprise at the recent move, noting that the living arrangement was only meant to include the mother and her children. This shocking case has drawn attention to issues surrounding domestic violence and child safety, highlighting the urgent need for community awareness and intervention in such crisis situations.
As updates on the case continue to unfold, community members and advocates are left grappling with the implications of this tragic incident.
