COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – A woman’s ex-boyfriend forced his way into her apartment early Tuesday and fatally stabbed her and her two children before being critically injured in a knife fight with her current boyfriend, police said.
Officers were called to the sprawling apartment complex on the north side of Columbus just before 1:30 a.m. and found the woman and children already dead and the two men suffering from stab wounds, Columbus police Sgt. Rich Weiner said.
The victims were identified as Erveena Hammonds, 32, and her daughters, 10-year-old Anaesia Green and 7-year-old Breya Hammonds.
Erveena Hammonds’ ex-boyfriend arrived at the apartment, forced his way in and killed her and the children before her current boyfriend showed up and the two men scuffled, Weiner said.
“Officers followed a blood trail and found what appears to be the suspect with multiple stab wounds,” Weiner said.
The ex-boyfriend was hospitalized in critical condition, with the current boyfriend in stable condition. Their names haven’t been released. Weiner said the ex-boyfriend will be charged with the slayings.
Yellow crime-scene tape was hung over a large area surrounding the beige three-level apartment building in steadily falling snow Tuesday. Officers on the scene declined to comment.
“It’s a very extensive scene, so it’s taking a long time to process,” Weiner said.