A courageous 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 WXYZSaida Mashrah opened up about Tuesday’s incident where a 73-year-old man allegedly attacked her in Ryan Park.
Saida said she was riding a “spinning thing that was green” when she saw her attacker. She said she greeted him with a simple “hello” as he walked toward her.
‘One hand was nothing. And he just stuck my head up. The other thing was a pocket knife. And then he just shoves the knife to my throat,” said Saida, who gave her attacker a “medium hard” kick to escape.
The young girl then screamed for help and ran away, blood pouring from her neck.
Neighbors who heard her screams came to her aid.
A courageous seven-year-old girl has spoken out about the moment a man slit her throat while playing in Detroit Park
Gary Lansky, 73, is accused of slitting Saida’s throat
“I immediately… grabbed some gauze pads and put them on her… to help her stop the bleeding,” Donna Mockbil said. ‘She says, “Oh, I’m going to die and no one will be here with me,” and it brought tears to my eyes.’
Mockbil’s son chased the suspect until police were able to apprehend him.
Saida was rushed to hospital by ambulance.
The suspect was identified as Gary Lansky, who has been charged with attempted murder and assault.
Although 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 dismissed as such investigated.
Police say they believe Lansky’s alleged attack reflected a mental health crisis he was experiencing, as reported to officers by his family.
As for Saida, she is scheduled for therapy and will reportedly have her stitches removed in her neck within a week.
‘I only sleep for two hours. It’s like he’s coming back for them, for my other children. I am so scared,” her mother, Amirah Sharhan, said CBS Detroit.
“They said she’s lucky, she’s very lucky. It was really deep, that cut.”
The attack happened at Ryan Park in Detroit while Saida was playing
A red bracelet with the word ‘Love’ now adorns the young survivor’s wrist.
Lanky’s bond is currently set at $2 million.
He is scheduled to appear in court on October 16.
