THOMASVILLE, Ga. — Two girls — ages 8 and 12  — held their mother hostage wielding a knife and scissors, according to city police.

Police made a welfare check at the children’s residence at 3 p.m. Saturday, encountered the girls and asked if anything was wrong.

“The juveniles appeared upset,” said Maj. Eric Hampton, Thomasville Police Department public information officer.

The sisters were arguing when the situation turned physical.

The children’s mother, 49, told officers her daughters had “been at each other” with a knife and scissors and held her hostage to prevent her from calling for help.

Said Hampton, “The mother said she got away from the juveniles, and they chased her outside.”

The mother, who told police she was not able to control the girls, eventually escaped and called police.

Hampton said that when an officer asked the girls why they were acting as they were, the 12-year-old responded “it was in their genes.”

“The eight-year-old was not charged due to the age,” Hampton explained.

The 12-year-old, who is charged with aggravated assault, is at a Thomasville youth detention center awaiting a juvenile court hearing.

The Thomas County Department of Family & Children Services was made aware of the incident.

(Pattie Dozier writes for the Thomasville Times-Enterprise.)