Top Stories

Police say McKees Rocks mother stabbed her child’s father in the chest

Justin Vellucci
By Justin Vellucci
2 Min Read Oct. 2, 2023 | 2 years Ago
Go Ad-Free today

Munhall police say a child-custody exchange turned violent Sunday afternoon when a woman stabbed her daughter’s father in the chest outside his Munhall apartment.

Police said they responded to the 3800 block of Shady Avenue around 3:15 p.m. and found a man identified as Victor Harvey suffering from a stab wound, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case. Harvey was taken to UPMC Mercy hospital, where he initially was listed in critical but stable condition.

Harvey told police he argued on the phone with his daughter’s mother, Ashley Rashay Smith, while she was driving to Harvey’s house to pick up their 1-year-old daughter, the complaint said.

After arriving at Harvey’s apartment, the complaint said, Smith stabbed Harvey in the left side of the chest, the complaint said. There were no words exchanged.

Police confronted Smith at her McKees Rocks home, where she was found with blood on her shorts, the complaint said.

Smith told police that Harvey “threw her daughter at her” and she caught and held the child as Harvey shoved her to the ground, the complaint said. She said Harvey punched her twice in the back while she was on the the ground and she then stabbed him and left, the complaint said.

Allegheny County Police charged Smith, 33, with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, possessing an instrument of crime, tampering with evidence and criminal mischief, court records show.

Smith was taken to Allegheny County Jail, county police spokesman Jim Madalinsky said. She had not been arraigned as of Monday morning.

Share

Tags:

About the Writers

Justin Vellucci is a TribLive reporter covering crime and public safety in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. A longtime freelance journalist and former reporter for the Asbury Park (N.J.) Press, he worked as a general assignment reporter at the Trib from 2006 to 2009 and returned in 2022. He can be reached at jvellucci@triblive.com.

Push Notifications

Get news alerts first, right in your browser.

Enable Notifications

Content you may have missed

Enjoy TribLIVE, Uninterrupted.

Support our journalism and get an ad-free experience on all your devices.

  • TribLIVE AdFree Monthly

    • Unlimited ad-free articles
    • Pay just $4.99 for your first month
  • TribLIVE AdFree Annually BEST VALUE

    • Unlimited ad-free articles
    • Billed annually, $49.99 for the first year
    • Save 50% on your first year
Get Ad-Free Access Now View other subscription options