A Queens man struck his wife in the head 12 times with a meat cleaver during an argument at their home Wednesday morning before he chased her outside and was grabbed by a passerby, law enforcement sources told NBC 4 New York.

Kang Wang, 53, was arrested at the couple's Flushing apartment. According to a source, the couple's 22-year-old son stopped the cleaver attack after waking up to her screams and urging his mother to run out of the house.  

Wang then chased his wife outside onto Parsons Boulevard as Juan Dapena drove by on his way to work. Dapena pulled over to help, grabbing his ice scraper for defense in the man holding the meat cleaver. 

"I told him to drop it," he told NBC 4 New York. "He was still holding it. Still looking at me. That's when I decided to hit his wrist six or seven times. That's when he dropped it."

He and the son held down Wang until police arrived.

"I was scared," Dapena told NBC 4 New York. "But I acted."

Wang was arrested and charged with assault, attempted criminally negligent homicide and criminal possession of a weapon. His wife, 52, was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Sources said the couple was arguing about money.

The super at the building next door said his tenants heard the screams.

Neighbors were in disbelief on Wednesday.

"It's so crazy," said Lim Han. "To be honest, I don't feel secure anymore."

Dapena, who served in the Marines, credits his military training for his reaction. But he also says his beliefs as a practicing Buddhist were equally helpful.

"Life is no. 1. I couldn't walk by something like that and let it be."

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