Woman tries to kill neighbor with samurai sword, police say


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SALT LAKE CITY — A woman was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide after attacking her neighbor with a samurai sword Sunday, police said.

Natasha Lynn Davis, 24, was arguing with her downstairs neighbor when she became enraged and retrieved a 27-inch long samurai sword from her apartment, according to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Around 5 p.m., Davis chased her 56-year-old male neighbor in front of the building, located near 1100 South and 400 East, and swung the sword at him twice, according to a probable statement.

“It was a chaotic scene when the officers did arrive,” Salt Lake police Sgt. Robin Heiden said. “The officer was flagged down; this happened before a call was even made into dispatch, so it was right after it happened when officers arrived on scene. It was still pretty heated when they got there.”


It was a chaotic scene when the officers did arrive.

–Sgt. Robin Heiden


The man blocked the sword with his left arm and received a deep laceration in his forearm, police said. Davis’ boyfriend grabbed her from behind to prevent her from continuing the attack as officers arrived on the scene, according to investigators.

Davis was booked into jail on suspicion of attempted homicide.

The length of the blade and distance between Davis and the man made it so she “could have easily caused substantial bodily injury or even death,” according to the probable cause statement.

The sword was taken into police custody as evidence, Heiden said.

A search of court records shows that Davis was charged with assault, a class A misdemeanor, in May 2012, after allegedly punching her mother. She entered a guilty plea in abeyance, and was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation and complete any recommended treatment. She was also ordered to take medications and continue with her schooling.

The plea was held in abeyance for 18 months. The charge was dismissed in March.

Contributing: Cleon Wall, Emiley Morgan


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