"I could see a scuffle:" Neighbor helps woman being attacked by former boyfriend

Neighbor comes to aid of woman being attacked

RACINE (WITI) -- Racine police arrested a man for first-degree attempted homicide and disorderly conduct after he allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend multiple times.

On Monday, October 20th around 9:30 p.m., officers responded to reports of a woman who had been stabbed in the 1100 block of Grand Avenue. When they arrived, officers found a 59-year-old woman suffering from multiple stab wounds. Investigating officers were advised that the woman's ex-boyfriend attacked her as she was leaving her home. The suspect allegedly told the victim he was going to kill her and proceeded to stab her.

A neighbor heard the victim yell for help.

"We was just sitting in our kitchen, kind of heard a noise. We're on a main street, so I just thought people passing. But I heard her say, 'he's trying to kill me, he's got a knife,'" said neighbor William Craigen.

Craigen wandered into his backyard to investigate what was going on.

"I could see a scuffle. So I had to break my fence down so that I could go out there. I seen a guy kind of stabbing her," said Craigen.

That's the point where Craigen transformed from just a friendly neighbor next door into a hero swooping in to save the day.

"I grabbed a bat to where once I came back, he kind of got up and ran off," said Craigen.

Police later arrested 59-year-old Robert Schooler. They say he's an ex-boyfriend of the victim -- and that he attacked her as she was leaving the home.

Schooler appeared in court on Tuesday afternoon, October 21st for an unrelated case. Charges have not yet been filed in this one.

The victim was taken to Wheaton Franciscan Hospital for treatment of her injuries.

Racine Police investigators are interested in any additional information that you may have about his crime. You are urged to call the Racine Police Department Investigations Unit at 262-635-7756. You may also contact Crimestoppers at 262-636-9330, or by texting RACS plus the message to CRIMES (274637) and referring to Tipsoft I.D. #TIP417 with your text message.