Louisiana man 'severed mom's arm' in horror chainsaw attack as suspect 'bites' arresting officers

A man has been arrested after allegedly cutting off his 70-year-old mom's arm with a chainsaw in a terrifying attack.

The 34-year-old John Pittman from Louisiana , was charged on Monday with one count of aggravated battery by cutting and one count of resisting arrest.

Police from the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) rushed to the scene following reports of an elderly woman who had her arm severed in a chainsaw attack on Riviera Avenue around 2 pm on July 22.

NOPD spokesperson Reese Harper told reporters that when officers arrived at the scene with emergency medical personnel, they found the woman "suffering from what appeared to be a severed arm." The victim was transported to a local hospital where she was listed in critical condition as of Monday afternoon, reports Law and Crime.

READ MORE: Kentucky mom 'kept 10-year-old daughter in dog cage for days' and 'threatened to slit her throat'

READ MORE: Ohio woman who made 400 fake 911 calls pleads guilty to '911 abuse' contributing to a person's death

After receiving a description of the suspect, officers went to a different residence in the Gentilly neighborhood on Franklin Avenue. There, they encountered the suspected assailant, later identified as Pittman. When they tried to arrest him, he reportedly resisted violently.

Two officers suffered "mild to moderate injuries" while apprehending Pittman, according to Harper. They were both transported to a local hospital for medical attention.

Authorities had to use a stun gun on Pittman before arresting him. New Orleans ABC affiliate WGNO reported that the suspect incurred multiple scrapes and lost a tooth in the process.

According to WDSU, one officer injured themselves falling down the house's entrance stairs, resulting in a broken leg and head and neck injuries. The other officer was reportedly bitten on the arm.

Thankfully, both officers had been discharged from the hospital by Tuesday. WDSU also captured footage of police leaving the residence with a chainsaw, which was then taken as evidence.

When quizzed about what could have motivated such an attack, Harper told reporters, the reasons remain unclear. Detectives are currently trying to work out why Pittman allegedly assaulted his mother.

Harper expressed his dismay over the incident: "It's a very unfortunate incident when you look at it," he said. "When you have anybody that is injured in that manner or seriously cut, that sounds like someone with a mental issue, for one. To do harm to your mom, you know? That's your mom."

Tawain Crockett, a neighbor, revealed to New Orleans Fox affiliate WVUE that this wasn't Pittman's first disruptive behavior. "That's crazy. It's the same stuff you see on TV," she told the station. Pittman, who is also reportedly accused of attacking a 73 year old at a bus station in 2023, is currently being held on bond totaling $300,000.