Man, 73, Slashes 7-Year-Old Girl At Detroit Park: Police

DETROIT — A 73-year-old man is facing charges after assaulting a 7-year-old girl at a Detroit park Tuesday, according to police.

The incident happened at Lloyd H. Ryan Playground near Ford Road and the Southfield Freeway at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to police.

Gary Lansky, of Detroit, was charged with assault with intent to murder, assault with a deadly weapon and felonious assault.

Saida Mashrah told Fox 2 Detroit she was at the park when the man attacked her with a knife.

"A guy came up to me," Mashrah told the outlet. "He pulled my face up and then in the other hand was a knife. He just came out of nowhere and slid the knife on me."

Mashrah told the news station she kicked the man and ran away toward her grandmother, who was with her at the park.

Officials took her to a nearby hospital where she was treated for a cut on her neck and in stable condition, according to police.

Police do not believe the incident was a hate crime as family members told investigations the 73-year-old man may have been suffering from a mental health illness.