Police arrested a 19-year-old Nuuanu man Saturday in connection with the stabbing death of Lyola Mesebeluu, 27, and the stabbing of the woman's husband and child.

Police said the woman was killed while struggling to protect her family from a knife-wielding stranger.

Police said the suspect entered the family's apartment in Kapiolani through an unlocked door at around 4 a.m. Saturday, awoke and stabbed Mesebeluu.

"The husband was awakened by the screams of his wife," said Maj. Alan Bluemke with the Honolulu Police Department. "He confronted the male suspect, confrontation occurred, and that's when the husband was stabbed."

Bluemke said the couple's 2-year-old child also suffered a cut to her arm.

All three victims were taken to the hospital where Mesebeluu later died from multiple stab wounds. Mesebeluu's husband was listed in serious condition and the toddler was said to be in stable condition.

The suspect was also treated for lacerations to his hands.

Police recovered the large kitchen knife used in the stabbings at the scene. Detectives do not yet know if the knife belonged to the victims or if the intruder brought it with him.

The victim's relatives live in the apartment right below the apartment where the incident took place. They said they returned home stunned, calling relatives in Palau to break the terrible news.

Residents in the building next door said just before the stabbing, the intruder apparently tried to enter their apartments going door to door.

"I was watching TV and the door was like someone was trying to push it open," said Clara Halvorsen. "I didn't respond to it because it was early in the morning."

Next-door residents said they are grateful they were spared by remembering to lock their doors.

"To realize that something like this could happen and someone could just walk in off the street, you know, it's really scary," said Chris Martin. "It makes me want to live in a secure building."

Police said the intruder and the victims were strangers. Investigators are trying to determine whether or not burglary was a motive.

A source told KITV that the intruder was highly intoxicated at the time of his arrest.