Woman accused of stabbing boy, 12, in unprovoked scissors attack at bank

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. -- A 12-year old boy was stabbed Monday by a woman who police say say walked into the bank and demanded money from customers.

According to officials, 32-year-old Iyona Hammond stabbed the boy at the Wells Fargo bank on East 14th Street around 11:30 a.m. Police say they arrested her near the bank with blood on her hands and holding a pair of scissors.

San Leandro police say the 12-year-old boy was visiting his family from out of state when Hammond stabbed him inside the bank.

"I can only imagine what this boy is going through," said Lt. Robert McManus. "The shock, the scare."

Police say Hammond stabbed the boy 3 times with scissors. The most severe wound is in his upper back near his neck.

"The wound itself was fairly deep and it will require surgery," McManus said.

Police say Hammond then demanded money from customers. She robbed one customer who was at the bank to make a cash deposit of a few hundred dollars

"At some point she got very enraged and agitated and she walked over to the boy who was sitting in a chair, peaceful, waiting for his family member to complete their meeting that they had there at the bank when she stabbed him from behind, it was completely unprovoked," said McManus.

The bank had two unarmed uniformed security guards inside. It's unclear when, if at all, they intervened.

The boy is in stable condition at Children's Hospital in Oakland. Police say Hammond who is now in custody may have also hurt herself.

She was initially facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon but those charges were upgraded to attempted murder due to the severity and location of the boy's wounds. Police also because the assault was unprovoked and Hammond attacked the boy from behind.