Watch CBS News

Police: Man Accused Of Violently Attacking Girlfriend, Infant Arrested

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Police have apprehended the man they say attacked two women and an infant in their apartment Friday morning, leaving all three fighting for their lives.

Authorities said Frederico Bruno, 19, was arrested Friday night after he was found hiding in the refrigerator of a vacant second-floor apartment in Belleville, N.J.

The suspect's older sister and children live in the adjacent apartment, police said.

The violent incident began when Bruno had been hiding in an apartment at 110 Rutgers Ave. in Jersey City, waiting for the victims to come home around 7 a.m., police said.

When Bruno's girlfriend entered the apartment with their 3-month-old son, he stabbed her and her friend -- who threatened to call 911 -- repeatedly, 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported.

He then pushed his girlfriend and the baby out of a third-floor window and ran down the stairs and began attacking the woman with a table he found in the rear yard, police said.

Bruno faces a growing list of charges, including aggravated assault. He is expected to face attempted murder charges on Monday, CBS 2's Derricke Dennis reported. He is currently being held on bail.

The suspect's niece was apologetic following the arrest.

"I'm shocked, it's crazy. I feel bad for the baby and his mom and the other lady who was trying to help them," Ashley Archelus said.

Archelus and her mother -- Bruno's sister -- live in the apartment next to where the suspect was eventually caught.

"We were all inside and they said that they caught him in the next apartment in the fridge," she said. "We didn't know he was coming. He just came out of nowhere, because he just comes once in a blue."

Earlier, Police Chief Thomas Comey expressed the outrage of his community in describing the violent and terrifying scene.

"I've been doing this 32 years, and every time you think you've seen it all, and you're shocked, something comes along and shocks you again," Comey told reporters, including CBS 2's Derricke Dennis.

Neighbor Flemming Dunn, 72, said he was among the first to go to the building and try to help.

"I heard somebody say 'Oh God, oh God, somebody call the police, call the police,'" Dunn said. "Another person came by and said 'Oh my God. It's a lady laying down there in the alleyway.'"

The mother, baby, and other woman were all taken to Jersey City Medical Center. The women are in critical condition, and the baby is extremely critical, Jones reported.

Share your thoughts in the comments section below...

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.