‘He’s tough’: neighbors pulling for 69-year-old man after stabbing in Carrick

PITTSBURGH — A 69-year-old man is fighting for his life at UPMC Mercy after he told Pittsburgh police his wife stabbed him with a kitchen knife. Channel 11 spoke with neighbors, who told us they weren’t surprised to hear what happened.

Those who live on Copperfield Avenue in Carrick describe their neighbor as kind, friendly and present.

“He’s always willing to help you when he can’t help himself, makes my son smile,” Marissa Shahan said, who has lived on Copperfield for 30 years.

So when Shahan got a phone call that police were at her neighbor’s house, she said she didn’t have a good feeling.

“I knew that the woman that lived there had done something to him,” Shahan said.

Nataliia Konieva, 36, faces two felony charges of aggravated assault after police said she attacked the man inside his home. Court documents show it happened around 7 a.m.

“I could see into the back of the ambulance, and his leg is hanging off the stretcher,” Shahan said. “We couldn’t get through to him that it wasn’t a safe situation.”

Court documents said Konieva told police her husband threatened to kill her. Officers say when they put her in a patrol car, she became very anxious, deliberately hitting her head on the Plexiglass of the rear seat cage. She was taken to UPMC Mercy with a laceration on her head before being taken to the Allegheny County Jail.

Neighbors said they hope the man pulls through.

“He’s tough. He’s had a lot of other issues happening, health issues, and he’s always come back. I take care of the house every time,” Shahan said.

At last check, the man remained in critical but stable condition at the hospital.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW