Unfortunate Heroism: 11-Year-Old Stabs Mom’s Abusive Boyfriend, Saves Her Life

June 18th, 2012 - By Alissa Henry
"Terrance Allen"

Source: nydailynews.com

An eleven-year-old boy in Brooklyn named Terrance Allen is being hailed as a hero today for stabbing a 42-year-old man who was attacking his mom and cousin, effectively fending off the assault.

The story is hardly heartwarming though when you consider the fact that the assailant was the mom’s live-in boyfriend, Timothy Pender.

New York Daily News reported that the man “snapped” and began choking the mother, then when the cousin tried to get him to stop, he began choking her. It was then that the little boy ran to get a kitchen knife and stabbed Pender in the back.  The boyfriend was arrested  and charged with second-degree assault, criminal obstruction of breathing and criminal mischief. He was taken to the hospital to treat his “non-life-threatening injuries.”

They’re reporting that the boyfriend snapped because that’s probably how the mother characterized it, but let’s be real, this man is an ex-con with multiple prior arrests stretching back twenty years. The report said he has pleaded guilty in past cases to forcible touching, trespass, resisting arrest and theft of services. He didn’t “snap”. He is plain dangerous and the mother endangered her child by not only dating this man, but allowing him to live with them.

There isn’t enough love (or loneliness) in the world that should rid a mother of her common sense when deciding to let someone live in her house with her and her child. There is no excuse for this sort of foolishness.

How often do we hear of some woman whose abusive boyfriend killed her kids? Sure we can “boo-hoo” when tragedy happens, but can we also point out that women need to wise up about the men they attach themselves to? This is more than an emotionally-unavailable man that doesn’t return calls in a timely fashion. These are men who will come near killing a woman and have no qualms about turning that same wrath on her unsuspecting children.

In this case, the kid is being lauded as a hero, but he’s probably traumatized for life and it’s his mother’s fault. We can only hope that she has learned her lesson and won’t go back to this guy or any other physically abusive man who puts her and her child’s life in imminent danger.

Alissa Henry is a freelance writer living in Columbus, OH. Follow her on Twitter @AlissaInPink

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002319436590 Brasco Rasco

    pass the hennessy–

  • victoria

    This past weekend I met a divorced mother who doesnt date. Her reasons are because she is a Christian and believes in celibabcy and she doesnt want her daughter to see Mommy around men. She wants a man who shares her views (of no sex before marriage and a man who is willing to take his time to get to know her before introducing him to her child). She knows that he will be a diamond in the rough and she is more than willing to wait or go without a relationship so that her beliefs and her daughters safety is not compromised. I was so impressed by her unselfish nature. She actually put the needs of her daughter before the needs of her physical fulfillment – it was refreshing to meet a mother like her.

  • Jamilahc

    I am so glad this little boy acted fast and saved the day. I hope he receives some counseling for the psychological aspect of what he is going through. The mother needs to be selective of the boyfriends that she chooses to have around herself and her family.

  • Sassynhot

    Why was she so desperate to bring a criminal into her home? She needs to lose her kids for her stupidity. I hope she learns from this incident and not let it happen again

  • yvette

    The parent is to protect the child not the child protecting the parent. Dear Mom, it is okay that you don’t have a boyfriend right now. I love you and I hope and pray you love yourself. You and me are enough. Sincerely, a child of a single mother.

  • Mrsadkiah

    I’m glad the little boy stepped in but he shouldn’t have had to. With this mans record the mother had to know what kind of man he was. Smh the women who date men like this ESPECIALLY when they have children are a disgrace.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001107681700 Bridgitte Walker

    Women need to learn to stay away from with these idiots for partners. It’s better to be alone than sick with someone else. If the man was acting like a decent human being, this may not have ever happened. If you have a partner that abuses you, and you have children, you owe a responsibility to those children to get out of that situation by any means necessary even if you may have to take his life for your protection. Domestic abuse takes two to tangle. But only one to quit the sick dance. If you meet a man, and he begins to get possessive and jealous get out quick and don’t look back. Learn the dynamics of an abuser before you get in too deep with these relationships and stay away from them like the black plague. Otherwise, you are being abused and teaching your children that this is what a love relationship is supposed to be like.

  • RedButterfly81

    Now I don’t blame the little boy defending his mom and cousin, but I would like to know why his mom letting an ex-con living in her home and having him around her kids?: This kid got more sense than his mom. Us women, especially single mothers have to do better when it comes to picking our men and leave these thugs alone!

  • jus sayin

    poor choices we make as adults will affect your children, the woman needs some counseling as to why she would choose to shack up with a violent ex con, and the family definitely needs to move – for their safety

  • Gimmeabreak78

    I’m glad it turned out well this time, but it still doesn’t address the level of poor judgement the mother had to have to date a man with such an extensive criminal history and to move that man into the same home she shared with her child. I always say that when someone giftwraps their crazy and hands it to you, you need to open the box. This man had too many red flags in his past for her to ignore. And to think she she almost made her son witness her murder by bringing this clown into their lives. Lord have mercy.

  • FromUR2UB

    Poor kid. Having to do things like this as children, is how people grow into hardened adults.

  • sammi_lu

    I don’t feel sorry for her at all.. hell I want to slap her a** up for putting her son in this effed up position. Poor child, I hope he gets some counseling and that his mother does too. Can you imagine if this baby would have actually fatally wounded this man? OMG..the damage

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Eliza-Beth/100003391668904 Eliza Beth

      You don’t feel sorry for her being choked? You are sick. I can’t believe you would blame someone for being victimized.

      • http://twitter.com/decembersugar meh

        i dont feel sorry this is the only incident that we actually know about it was most likely not the first time he put hands on her and she probably took him back. thats like me feeling sorry for those dumb asses who jump in a lion or bear habitate at the zoo and they get mauled then they go to the news like cnn looking for sympathy.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Eliza-Beth/100003391668904 Eliza Beth

          No it’s like you walking through the park getting rape and me saying you deserved it for walking by yourself at night! It’s always black people saying stupid stuff like this, until of course it happens to you. don’t go around saying prisoners deserve “second chances” if you don’t actually believe it.

          • victoria

            Deserving a second chance doesnt mean having him in your home; around your child. The boyfriend has a conviction for forced touching. He shouldnt hv been around her son.

          • Mrsadkiah

            This man has had SEVERAL “second chances” with 20 yrs of crimes on his record. And we can feel as though prisoners deserve second chances but you still must be smart. If someone has a record of abuse then it’s only smart not to have that person around you and especially your child(ren). If I know someone just got out of jail on a rape charge I’m taking a HUGE risk by giving this person a second chance. I would understand if people said they had no sympathy because I put myself in a terrible situaiton. No one is saying this woman deserved what she got, they just don’t feel bad that she was abused because she knowingly put herself in a position where it was highly likely for her to be abused.

      • sammi_lu

        No I don’t feel sorry..it’s unfortunate yes and I feel compassion out of human nature, but we are all dealt a hand in life..how we choose to play it is up to us. This is not her husband or the child’s father..this is a criminal whom she moved into her home, her boyfriend. This isn’t a case of a battered wife who has nowhere to go so has to take the abuse. SHE CHOSE to risk her and family’s safety. I simply have a hard time believing that this was the first time he was physically violent towards her..I am a lot of things but before any of those I am a Mother..I put my child’s happiness, well-being, safety, before any and everything.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Eliza-Beth/100003391668904 Eliza Beth

      You don’t feel sorry for her being choked? You are sick. I can’t believe you would blame someone for being victimized.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Eliza-Beth/100003391668904 Eliza Beth

      You don’t feel sorry for her being choked? You are sick. I can’t believe you would blame someone for being victimized.

  • Trisha_B

    This is a sad story. The man is a criminal. Been in & out of jail for years. But this woman thought it was a good idea to bring him around her child? smh. That little boy shouldn’t have to had played “hero” & fight against a grown man.

  • Jenna

    I agree with everything this author said! I man I’m glad the young boy saved his mother but hopefully she has changed, otherwise what’s gonna stop her from attracted the same situation and now this young boy has to risk his life again. And thank gawd he wasn’t hurt or worse yet charged with anything. Now he has been violent towards another when his grown a** mother shouldn’t have put him in this situation in the first place. I”m very upset with this mother!

    • jenna

      * I mean I’m glad* hate typos! LOL

  • http://twitter.com/wizkidworld Jay

    Good job to the little boy. I still don’t know what goes through women’s minds when they date a ex-con. Many times they deserve much better, but loneliness will make you settle for anything.

  • MLS2698

    When my mother was a foster parent, a child was placed with her because the mother’s boyfriend beat him up for throwing away aluminum bottle caps he and the mother used to do drugs with; he was fourteen at the time. Fast forward seven years, this same young man was stabbed and killed by another boyfriend while trying to protect his mother. Nothing else to say.

    • JNW

      Damn. She should spend as much time in jail as if she killed him herself.

  • lalatarea

    letting a man with a violent post who has attacked you and others live in your home with tour child really should be considered child abuse or endangerment. this “mother” is so pathetic she is suppose to protect him not the other watt arnd what if this got out of hand and the man attacked the boy or worse yet stabbed the child? smdh

  • Miss D

    Wow, that poor boy. I hope that he receives some counseling and a safer place to stay. If the boyfriend isn’t jailed, his crazy self will come back and harm them again.

    The mom, and a lot of women out there need to get some self-esteem. Being single is nothing to be afraid of, so don’t let a man treat you any old way just for the sake of being in a relationship. And for damn sure, don’t bring your kids into that mess. People will treat you how you ALLOW them to treat you.

  • http://twitter.com/MsRedboneBrite Tee Elyse

    Wow, glad he didn’t “snap” and hurt the little boy! Kudos to him stepping in to defend those two women in his life, and yeah, we know that this wasn’t just no one time thing! I hope mom doesn’t end up back with that scrub!

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/TUEXVVHBFHYJ5T36VNTAD3PYTQ Cool Breeze

      black women sure know how to pick “winners” don’t they? lol

    • victora

      my thoughts, while reading the article, is she will probably take him back.

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