Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse man is accused of choking and beating a woman with a hammer early Monday inside a house they shared, according to city police records.

Elonzia Armstrong, 48, of 303 Sterling Ave., was charged with felony attempted assault, felony strangulation and misdemeanor menacing and misdemeanor criminal possession of a weapon, records stated.

He is charged with beating the 50-year-old victim with his fists and later hitting her in the leg with a hammer, records stated. The woman required help from paramedics and suffered severe swelling to her face.

The victim told police Armstrong became angry when she didn't do the laundry sooner and beat her. He allegedly also held a utility knife to her throat and threatened to kill her if she ran, records stated.

When police arrived shortly after midnight, Armstrong had fallen asleep with a hammer and the open utility knife next to him in bed. He was arrested without incident.