Police: York woman stabbed in neck by boyfriend escaped through window

A York woman climbed out of a window to get help after her boyfriend allegedly stabbed her in the neck minutes earlier, according to York Police.

A 41-year-old victim, whose chest was covered in blood, met with officers at the York Police Department about noon Saturday. The blood appeared to have been running from a stab wound on the back of her neck, and the woman also had smaller cuts on her hands.

The victim said she got out of the shower and told her boyfriend, 43-year-old Shawn Patrick Bell, she thought “they needed time apart,” according to a police report. Bell allegedly grabbed the woman by the neck and slammed her on the couch.

Bell retrieved what the victim believed was a kitchen knife and told the victim he was going to kill her, and stabbed her in the back of the neck, police said. The victim said she put her hands on her face in defense, and Bell reportedly also cut himself on the shoulder and legs.

The victim “distracted” Bell by asking if he wanted breakfast, police said. She waited until Bell wasn’t paying attention, and climbed out of a bedroom window to flag down help. A friend took the victim to police headquarters, and EMS transported her to Piedmont Medical Center.

Police received a tip that Bell was at the Walmart on Liberty Street. Officers found Bell in the parking lot and told him to get on the ground, to which he responded by yelling profanities.

Bell eventually complied and was arrested, the report states. He had a cut on his forearm that required medical attention.

Police said Bell smelled of alcohol and had a bag of green leafy material believed to be marijuana in his pocket. He was placed in the York County detention center, where he remained Monday under $80,000 bond.

Bell was charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

This story was originally published June 29, 2015 at 11:26 AM with the headline "Police: York woman stabbed in neck by boyfriend escaped through window."