Woman Stabs Man After He Gave Her $1, She Thought It 'Should Have Been More': New Haven Police

NEW HAVEN, CT — A woman asked a 71-year-old man for money, and police say he gave the accused $1.

But the woman thought it should have been more and displayed a knife, police said. The man tried to run but fell and broke his leg, and the woman is accused of stabbing the man once in the back, police added. Bystanders were able to restrain the woman until police arrived, police added.

At 11:51 a.m. Friday, police responded to Chapel Street and Sherman Avenue for a report of a woman threatening a man with a knife in her hand, then stabbing him, police said.

Police said Melissa Healey, 26, of New Haven, was being restrained by people nearby.

The victim, a 71-year-old man, was taken to a local hospital "with a puncture wound to his back," police said.

"The victim reported that Healey approached him for money, so he gave her a dollar," police said. "Healey began arguing with him over what she felt should have been more, then produce a knife."

"He attempted to run from Healey but fell, breaking a leg," police said. "While he was on the ground, Healey stabbed him once in his back and was ultimately subdued by people in the area."

She was taken into custody and charged with first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, three counts of first-degree threatening, carrying a dangerous weapon, first-degree reckless endangerment, and three counts of second-degree breach of peace.

She is being held in lieu of a $250,000 bond, police said.

"An unprovoked attack like this is terrible, but especially when it involves a vulnerable person who can't defend themselves," said Police Chief Karl Jacobson. "I would like to thank the Good Samaritans who stepped in to help this victim, and I'm grateful he wasn't more seriously injured."

image via New Haven Police