Chicago man allegedly tried to kill woman because her 'happiness' angered him

CHICAGO, June 12 (UPI) -- An Illinois man has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery after he allegedly attacked a woman outside of a church because her "happiness" upset him.

Jessie White saw a 26-year-old woman walking with her 8-year-old daughter outside Chicago's St. Pancratius Church and reportedly threatened them with a knife.

The 25-year-old is accused of telling the mother, "I'm going to kill you."

While the daughter ran to get help, White allegedly dragged the woman into a nearby basement where he had previously urinated and continued to assault her physically.

The daughter was able to find her dad and he intervened during the attack, moments before police arrived.

White appeared in court on Wednesday to face the charges.

"He saw the 26-year-old woman and her child and how happy they were, and it made him angry," Assistant State's Attorney Erin Antonietti said, according to DNAinfo Chicago. "When [White] sees a happy situation ... his reaction is to violently attack this woman and try to kill her."

Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil ordered that White remain behind bars and be held without bond.