Inset (left): Tawanna Gant (Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office). Inset (right): News footage of Kiera Hennings in an interview (WITI). Background: Doorbell camera footage of the front porch of the duplex shared by Gant and Hennings (WITI).
A Wisconsin woman is sharing her story after she was allegedly stabbed by her neighbor in the duplex they shared.
Kiera Hennings, 35, told local Fox affiliate WITI that she nearly died after she was allegedly stabbed by her downstairs neighbor, 51-year-old Tawanna Gant. According to a criminal complaint reviewed by Law&Crime, police responded to a duplex in Milwaukee just after 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 19. When they arrived, Hennings told officers, "I'm dying" while wrapped in a blood-soaked sheet.
As one officer tended to Hennings' wounds, he asked her who attacked her. She replied, "Tawanna stabbed me."
Hennings was taken to the hospital and treated for two stab wounds, one to her chest and one to her abdomen. The alleged attack left her with a collapsed lung and a lacerated liver.
After she was released from the hospital, Hennings told WITI that she had accidentally locked the front door of her duplex when she left the home to go shopping. Gant was outside letting her dogs out and was locked out of her apartment.
According to the complaint, the alleged attack was building up before Hennings even left her upstairs apartment. Hennings' brother told police that they were getting ready to leave when he heard Gant shout, "This b— is going to get her a— beat." Police said there had been ongoing issues between the neighbors, including an altercation a month earlier.
The brother said that when they felt it was safe to leave, they went downstairs. Police said Gant and four other people, including Gant's 15-year-old son, were outside at the time and became locked out of the duplex. In doorbell camera footage obtained by WITI, a verbal argument could be heard, and Hennings told the outlet that the argument soon became physical.
Referring to Gant, Hennings told WITI, "She attacked me. I think she grabbed me by my wig, and I was forced to defend myself."
According to the complaint, Gant, her two sons, and the girlfriend of one of the sons all allegedly took part in the fight. At some point, Hennings tried to leave and go back up to her apartment, but Gant punched her and both women started fighting. Hennings' brother tried to pull Hennings away, but she was not done fighting. The siblings eventually made it back to their apartment, and the girlfriend of Hennings' brother called police.
Hennings went back downstairs to speak to police when she saw flashing lights. According to the complaint, Hennings only made it halfway down the stairs when one of her male neighbors "grabbed her and dragged her down the remaining stairs." It was during this second altercation that Hennings was allegedly stabbed by Gant. Hennings' brother carried his sister back to her apartment.
While Hennings was in her upstairs apartment, Gant and the other downstairs neighbors started breaking her door down. At that point, the police arrived.
Hennings told WITI that her 9-year-old son likely saved her life. "I asked my 9-year-old son to get a sheet to preserve me, so thank god the paramedics came within 10 minutes."
Gant denied stabbing Hennings and only admitted to fighting her. Police said she claimed her son's girlfriend did the alleged stabbing. Her 15-year-old son, who allegedly took part in the fight, offered to take the blame for his mother.
Gant was charged with reckless injury with a deadly weapon and is in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail, where she is being held on $20,000 cash bond. Her next court date is scheduled for Sept. 8.
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