Miami

Husband, 81, Attacks Wife With Hammer: Miami Police

Woman hospitalized in serious but stable condition

A man was in custody after police say he attacked his wife with a hammer at their Miami home Saturday morning.

Officers responded to the home in the 600 block of Southwest 7th Court in Little Havana around 8:30 a.m. after a neighbor called 911 to report a woman screaming for help, Miami Police officials said.

When officers arrived, they heard the woman screaming and made their way into the apartment where they found the man hitting his wife in the head with a hammer, officials said.

The woman was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center in serious but stable condition.

Her husband, 81-year-old Jose Guillermo Duarte, was charged with one count of attempted murder with a deadly weapon, police said. He was being held without bond Sunday and it was unknown if he has an attorney.

According to police the incident began as an argument between the couple, who have been married for more than 20 years. Police didn't release their names.

Neighbor Cosmean Albisu lives in the apartment below where the incident took place.

"I got up to use the bathroom and I just hear someone screaming," Albisu said. "She actually was calling for help, saying 'don't do this to me, why are you doing this? I haven't done anything, stop hitting me. Please help, help, call the cops, call the cops.'"

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