HYANNIS, MASS. (WHDH) - A 31-year-old man was arrested Thursday for allegedly stabbing a teen girl at a Dollar Tree in Hyannis.
According to authorities, Nikolas Rescigno, of Hyannis, “approached the juvenile female from behind in the foyer of the store and without warning stabbed her in the lower backside as she stood next to her mother.”
Police said he is unknown to the victim and the attack “appears to be random and unprovoked”. Witnesses told police he stayed on scene staring at the victim and eventually dropped the knife when asked to do so by a bystander.
Police took Rescigno into custody upon arrival without incident.
Rescigno was arrested on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon with serious bodily injury.
He was also charged on an additional outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court following another incident involving a knife, this one at the Cape Cod Mall in May 2023.
Bail was set at $5,000. He was arraigned Friday in Barnstable District Court.
A doctor sent to evaluate Rescigno told the judge she couldn’t get him to talk.
“Mr. Rescigno refused to speak with me, so I don’t have any current data,” said Dr. Jenn McAllister, forensic mental health supervisor.
The teenager’s family was in court, looking for answers. The only time Rescigno looked up in court was to play with his handcuffs.
A business near the Dollar Tree hired a new security guard to keep customers safe.
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