GULFPORT --
A 31-year-old woman is accused of attacking another woman with a hatchet while the victim was holding a baby, according to Gulfport police.

Police said Cinderella Lavine followed Ashton Johnson off a Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority bus on Monday and hit her on the shoulder with the hatchet and stole her purse.

Johnson said as soon as she got off a bus at 49th Street and 23rd Avenue with her sister and four-week-old baby boy, Lavine snuck up behind her.

"All of a sudden I felt a real sharp pain hit me in my back," said Johnson, who suffered a deep gash that required stitches.

"I thought I was losing my life. I thought that she had cut me to where she was going to kill me," she said. "All I could think about was my son and my sister. I just wanted them to run."

Johnson said she doesn't even know Lavine. She's still wondering why she attacked her.

Police also said Lavine had her 6-year-old daughter with her.

"I think she was on drugs and wanted more money to get more drugs because the simple fact she had a little girl with her," said Johnson. "I have no idea."

Lavine was arrested following the attack. Police said they found the hatchet, a claw hammer and two steak knives.

She told police the weapons were for self-defense and said some women were throwing bricks at her daughter.

Lavine is charged with robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of aggravated battery and other related charges. The state has taken custody of her daughter.


http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2010/august/139413/Gulfport-police:-Woman-attacked-with-hatchet-while-holding-baby