A Miami woman is facing felony charges after police say she stabbed her son with a kitchen fork during an argument over a phone bill and his repeated tardiness at school.

According to the Miami-Dade Police Department, 39-year-old Leticia Puentes was arrested Thursday morning and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. The incident took place inside the family’s home on Northwest 72nd Street, just north of downtown Miami, at around 8:15 a.m.

Police say the dispute began as a heated argument over household expenses and the boy’s recent absences and lateness. As tempers flared, the son allegedly began throwing objects around the home. Puentes, according to the arrest report, grabbed a fork during the struggle and stabbed her son behind his right ear.

When officers arrived, they found the boy bleeding from what was described as a “fresh puncture wound.” Paramedics treated him at the scene, and his injuries were determined to be non-life-threatening.

Puentes admitted to stabbing her son but told police it was in self-defense, claiming that he had become aggressive first. Investigators have not said whether the son will face any charges connected to the altercation.

Neighbors in the quiet Miami neighborhood described the scene as chaotic, with police cars and an ambulance parked outside the home for most of the morning. One resident said she often saw Puentes walking her son to the bus stop but never suspected any trouble inside the home.

Puentes was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where she remains held on a $3,000 bond. It’s unclear if she has retained an attorney. Miami-Dade family services were notified and are reportedly working to ensure the child’s safety.

As of Friday, the boy’s condition was reported as stable, and authorities confirmed he was staying with relatives.

If convicted, Puentes could face up to 15 years in prison under Florida law for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Her arraignment is expected later this month.