NEW YORK -- A vicious fight among family members in the hallway of a New York City apartment building ended when a man allegedly shot his 20-year-old stepdaughter early Wednesday morning, reports CBS New York.

The 20-year-old victim suffered gunshot wounds to the face and stomach. Police said she was in serious but stable condition. The victim, her stepfather Arthur Meredith, and her mother and sister were all arguing around 4 a.m. before the shooting, according to police.

The mother, Jeannette Meredith, told CBS New York that her daughters are homeless and were trying to break into her apartment. She said that's why the suspect, her husband, stepped in.

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Arthur Meredith, 38, was taken into police custody, but had not been charged.

"It was self-defense," Jeannette Meredith said. "They were trying to attack us and hurt us. They had a steak knife with them."

"He just took it out and fired a couple of shots just to scare them so they would go away," Meredith said. "They tried to stab me and beat me up."

A knife was recovered at the scene, according to CBS New York.

The victim told police she's nearly two months pregnant, but her mother questioned the accuracy of that claim.