Teen attacked in random stabbing at Cape Cod store; suspect arrested
Nov 08, 2024
BARNSTABLE, Mass. (WWLP) - Police on Cape Cod arrested a man who they say randomly stabbed a teenage girl inside a store Thursday afternoon.
Barnstable police arrested Nikolas Rescigno, 31, of Hyannis on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, in connection to the stabbing at the Dollar Tree store on Route 132 in Hyannis, which was reported shortly after 12:30 P.M. Thursday.
Witnesses told police Rescigno approached the victim from behind and stabbed her in the lower backside as she stood next to her mother. After stabbing the victim, Rescigno remained on scene in the foyer of the store, and eventually dropped the knife after a bystander told him to do so.
The victim was taken to the hospital by ambulance, and is expected to survive.
Police say Rescigno and the victim did not know each other, and the attack appears to be random and unprovoked in nature.
In addition to the assault and battery charge, Rescigno faces an additional charge for an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court in connection to another incident involving a knife; that one at the Cape Cod Mall in May of last year. Bail for Rescigno was set at $5,000 pending an arraignment scheduled for Friday in Barnstable District Court.