A 15-year-old high school student was arrested Monday for allegedly slashing his father and sister's throats with a utility knife in their house.
The father, 47, an elementary school teacher in the city of Wakayama, and the 11-year-old sister suffered minor injuries and were being treated at a local hospital.
The teen, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, reportedly first cut his sister's throat at about 12:50 a.m. Monday while she was sleeping. He then slashed at his father, who woke up when he heard the girl screaming, according to police.
When the boy's mother told him to stop, he dropped the knife and fled the house, police said. The knife thought to have been used in the attack was later found inside the house.
Police found the boy sitting on a bench in a nearby park and arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder. The boy admitted to the attack and voiced remorse over his actions, said the police, who have yet to establish the motive.
The boy's mother, 42, also an elementary school teacher, called an ambulance at around 1 a.m. Paramedics went to the house and took the father and girl to the hospital.
The boy lives with his parents, grandparents and the sister. The mother and grandparents were also at home at the time but were unharmed.
Officials at the teen's school expressed shock, saying he had never been a problem student and his grades were above average.