A horrific unprovoked attack occurred in Providence on Wednesday afternoon, October 7, 2026, leaving a 2-year-old girl and her mother seriously injured.
The Incident
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Location: Near the intersection of Broad Street and Public Street, while waiting for an older child at a school bus stop.
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The Attack: A man randomly approached a mother in her late 20s and her 2-year-old daughter—who was sitting in a stroller—and began stabbing the toddler multiple times in the face, chest, and hands. When the mother tried to intervene, she was stabbed in the shoulder.
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Bystander Intervention: Witnesses quickly rushed to help, pursuing the suspect and rendering emergency first aid (including performing chest compressions) after the toddler briefly stopped breathing.
The Suspect
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Arrest: The suspect fled into a nearby residential home and attempted to hide in the basement, where he was tracked down and taken into custody by Providence Police.
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Identity: He was identified as 46-year-old Nelson Blanco, an unhoused individual.
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Charges: Blanco has been charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Police confirmed there was no prior relationship or connection between the suspect and the victims.
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Criminal & Legal History: According to court records and police statements, Blanco has a lengthy criminal record spanning over two decades across multiple agencies. Notably, his history includes a 2003 case where he was charged with randomly stabbing two 7-year-olds, and he had reportedly been deemed mentally unfit for a domestic violence trial shortly before this incident.
Both victims were rushed to a hospital following the attack, and the case has sparked widespread outrage across Rhode Island regarding public safety and the handling of repeat violent offenders.
