Wisconsin – In a terrifying case out of Wisconsin, a 16-year-old boy, identified as Ramone W., is facing adult felony charges after he used pruning shears to slice his mother in the face and head—just days after she had warned police about his “creepy” behavior. The teen has been charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide with use of a dangerous weapon and first-degree reckless injury, according to court records. Under Wisconsin law, juveniles as young as 10 are automatically charged as adults for certain violent felonies, including attempted homicide. Ramone now finds himself in that category following a brutal attack that left his mother sliced across the face, head, arms, and back.
The incident occurred in the early hours of July 16 at the family’s home. Just two days earlier, authorities had returned Ramone home after he ran away. His mother told investigators he was “pissed that he was snatched back” and especially angry that she had deleted videos off of his social media platform channel. The situation deteriorated quickly. His mother noticed his mood darkening, his movements growing more unsettling. “When he ate, he was pacing like a caged tiger,” she told police. Alarmed, she decided to take action. She began gathering up knives, kitchen tools, even a drill—anything sharp—and locked them away in her car. Her fear was growing by the hour.
Watching through security cameras, she saw Ramone in the garage, searching for something. He rifled through the toolbox and looked behind a mattress. The shears, she later told police, must have been hidden behind it. It was at that moment she knew something was terribly wrong. “His whole behavior really freaked me out,” she said. The teen allegedly waited until early morning to act. Police say he turned off the power to the house and then lured his mother to an electrical box. That’s when he attacked—armed with a pair of two-foot-long pruning shears. Blood was later found near the weapon by investigators.
The woman was able to flee the home, grabbing her 12-year-old son—Ramone’s younger brother—before escaping in her vehicle. Her quick thinking may have saved both of their lives. But the horror didn’t stop there. According to the criminal complaint, investigators uncovered disturbing messages on Ramone’s phone. He allegedly expressed a desire to kill his ex-girlfriend and mentioned plans to send a video of himself killing his mother and brother.
Authorities arrested Ramone shortly after the attack. He is currently being held on a $50,000 cash bond as he awaits his next court appearance, scheduled for August 25. A competency hearing has been ordered to assess his mental state and ability to stand trial. While Ramone’s mother survived the attack, she suffered significant injuries and an emotional trauma that will not easily fade.
The case has raised alarm over how quickly teenage anger can turn deadly, and how early warning signs—no matter how subtle—must be taken seriously. The legal process now moves forward as the court prepares to evaluate Ramone’s mental competency. If convicted, he faces decades in prison for a crime that was not only violent but chillingly premeditated.
