Largo Police arrested a 17-year-old suspect in connection with what was originally being investigated as a violent home invasion and stabbing.
Police spent the day looking for a man who reportedly broke into a home in Largo and attacked a pregnant woman with a knife before running from the scene on Tuesday morning.
The incident occurred on 7th Street NW in Largo.
Family members said 42-year-old Emily Lam was attacked inside her home.
As police investigated, they discovered Nathan Singhavong, the victim's step-son, staged the burglary.
Police arrested Singhavong and charged him with attempted homicide, battery and tampering with evidence. Detectives say the teen's father was out of town when the incident happened.
During a news conference, police said the teen was unhappy about having to move to the Largo area from St. Petersburg. He was scheduled to start today at Largo High School.
Singhavong admitted the crime and cover-up to police.
He is now being held at the Pinellas County Juvenile Detention Center.
WHAT HAPPENED:
Family members said Lam heard a noise in the bathroom of the home around 6 a.m. on Tuesday morning. She saw the silhouette of a man standing in the bathroom and that man chased her into the kitchen of the home.
The male suspect grabbed a knife from the kitchen and attacked the woman in the face and neck with the knife. She suffered defensive wounds but was able to protect her neck with her hands and arms. Her father was able to interrupt the attack and jump on the suspect. The suspect was able to break away from the father, punch the victim in the face, and then run away from the home.
A 12-year-old child was also inside at the time of the attack.
"I woke up at the sound and then I got scared," said Ivy Singhavong, 12. "I stayed in my room, just in case like someone might be out there."
She said she came outside to find Lam on the kitchen floor.
"There was blood everywhere," Singhavong said.
The victim is a 42-year-old woman who is 23 weeks pregnant.
She was transported to Morton Plant Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The father was not injured.
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