JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A woman and her son stabbed several times are alive and out of the hospital sharing their domestic violence experience.
LaDonna Williams said she and her husband got into an argument that turned very violent early last Thursday morning. Williams said her son, Dante Williams saved her life and risked his own life to stop the attack.
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LaDonna Williams said she and her husband, Freddie Smith were arguing over finances when according to authorities, Smith grabbed a glass object and began stabbing LaDonna Williams in the neck. LaDonna Williams began to scream which prompted her son Dante Williams, to break down the bedroom door and tackle Smith. Police said Dante Williams was also stabbed several times.
Both LaDonna Williams and her son were able to get out and call 911.
"I'm really proud of my son. I feel really guilty. He should have never been in a position to do something like that,” said LaDonna Williams. “I also feel like my son put his life on the line for me, and he could have very well lost his life. I'm really lucky to have a son like that."
According to News4Jax Crime and safety analyst, Gil Smith, Duval County is one of the most violent counties in the state when it comes to domestic violence
“Most people don't report domestic violence when they're experiencing it. They think it might get better, it will stop eventually, or it's not quite that serious,” said Gil Smith. “In many cases the violence increases and gets worse."
This was definitely the case with LaDonna Williams who has been dealing with domestic violence for about three years. She didn't think it was that bad and said it started off with verbal and emotional attacks. Then it turned into physical.
“I've tried to stay calm through the whole situation and dealing with it. I kind of blew it off thinking we'd go to bed and tomorrow would be a new day,” LaDonna Williams said. “Even once he stabbed me I never expected him to hurt the kids. We've had fights, he's hurt me before but never to this extent, but he's never put his hands on the kids."
“When I saw Dante getting stabbed, that was really shocking in itself and I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to stop him and that was really a helpless feeling. In my wildest dreams I would never have thought he would have went this far,” LaDonna Williams explained.
LaDonna Wiiliams said the argument started over money and Smith was helping her financially with the children and that his home was safe and stable.
LaDonna Williams also said there was trouble in their relationship for years and said her son did a brave thing but hopes this story will inspire other people to end their abusive relationships before it gets worse.
Dante Williams shared what he remembered about last Thursday’s tragedy.
“I didn't know I had been stabbed five times. I don't even know when he stabbed me in the back. I was on top of him, but my mom says he was on top of me at one point, and everything just happened so fast, you don't really feel getting stabbed at first until afterwards," Dante Williams explained.
Dante Williams continued, “After I got stabbed, I ran out into the street and laid down on the ground and I didn't feel like getting back up, but my sister was next to me,”
Dante Williams said he ran a bit farther but eventually laid on the ground.
“Next thing I know, I'm lying on the ground waiting for the ambulance to come and just staring up at the night sky waiting. That's pretty much all I did,” Dante Williams.
While he was lying on the ground Dante Williams said he saw police officers take Smith away.
LaDonna Williams said the knife that was used to stab her and her son is a self-defense weapon that belonged to her and she kept on the side of the bed.
“It's been hard, it's been really confusing as far as our emotions and how we're supposed to feel and act. It really surprises me, we've all been really strong. The girls too,” LaDonna Williams said. “Dante doesn't show any emotion about it other than anger.”
Gil Smith revealed there is a program called INVEST, that combines several organizations, like the sheriff's office, Department of Children and Families, Hubbard House and the State Attorney's office, to identify potentially lethal situations and provide services to those peoples before it's too late, like relocation and injunctions.
“Many times victims don't report domestic violence because they are afraid of retaliation, financial reasons, and because they don't want them to get in trouble or they still have feelings for the person,” Gil Smith said.
Freddie Smith is charged with aggravated domestic battery, which is a felony.