SPRINGFIELD GARDENS — The U.S. Army veteran who heroically stopped a knife-wielding mom who was allegedly stabbing her 9-year-old daughter said Wednesday he didn't think twice when he stepped in and saved the little girl's life.
Anthony George pinned down Ann Carimbocas, 44, who police said repeatedly stabbed her daughter, Briana Davis, in the head, back and shoulder with an 8-inch kitchen knife Tuesday morning.
"What was I supposed to do?" said George, who lives in the home at 144-67 176th St. home where the alleged attack occurred. "Just stop her from doing it."
George held Carimbocas down until cops arrived, police said. He suffered a cut to his right leg and was treated and released from a hospital.
Carimbocas, who was visiting George's mother for the Memorial Day weekend, was arrested and charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child.
Briana was taken to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Tuesday in a news conference at One Police Plaza. Cops on Wednesday said her status had been downgraded slightly to critical, but stable condition.
George said Carimbocas had visited his home on two other occasions, but it was the first time he had ever seen Briana.
He recalled sitting in his kitchen Tuesday morning when Carimbocas allegedly snapped.
"She didn't say anything," he said outside of his Wednesday afternoon. "Of course, I was shocked."
Carimbocas told detectives that she allegedly lost it because her daughter had acted up.
"She said her daughter was not behaving," a police source said.
That's when George, a U.S. Army veteran of the Iraq war, got in between mother and daughter.
"He actually holds the woman until the police arrive," Kelly said.
Carimbocas was undergoing a psychological evaluation at Queens General Hospital, a source said. She had not been arraigned by Wednesday afternoon, a spokeswoman for the Queens District Attorney said.
The city Administration for Children's Services is investigating, a spokeswoman said.