WATERTOWN, Conn. — A teen is in serious condition after a suspected targeted home invasion yesterday afternoon. A 16-year-old Watertown suspect was accused of using a hatchet in an alleged attack against a teenage girl from the same high school.
Around 4 p.m., police were called to a home on Morris Town Line on the report of an armed home invasion. They were told the suspect was armed with a hatchet and someone in the home was injured.
The teen was in police custody Thursday for what police described as a home invasion police described as a home invasion, while the teenaged girl recovered from serious injuries. Police said the teenaged boy had a quote "obsession" with the teenaged girl.
“We believe that mental health certainly came into play in this situation and it’s just a tragic situation all around that two young lives are affected to this degree,” said Watertown Police Chief Joshua Bernegger.
“Dispatch was informed that a single male suspect had entered the resident armed with a hatchet and assaulted a teenage female occupant,” Chief Bernegger said.
Police were told the suspect had fled the home into the woods between Morris Town Line Highway and Bassett Road. Officers on the scene set up a perimeter and entered the woods with State Police and K9 divisions.
The victim was a juvenile, according to police, and they had sustained serious injuries to the head, legs, and hands, wounds consistent with an "edged weapon". The juvenile was taken to the hospital. Police said the victim's wounds were serious but non-life-threatening.
According to police, family members were alerted of the home invasion and intervened, trying to distract the suspect. According to police the victim’s sister alerted their father as the suspect arrived at the house. Police said the father intervened in the assault while a family member called 9-1-1 and another family member chased the attacker who fled jumping out a second floor window.
While searching for the suspect, police learned they were looking for a 16-year-old from Watertown. Police said officers and k-9 searched for the suspect through the woods.
Officers managed to make phone contact with the teen who told them his location and was then taken into custody.
Police said investigators recovered a hatchet, large kitchen knife, and a machete along with duct tape and binoculars.
“It is undetermined what his exact intent was, but given the tools and equipment that he came with certainly was to cause bodily harm,” Chief Bernegger said.
Based on information from the investigation, police said they believe the suspect knew the victim but were not close friends, and that the suspect targeted the juvenile specifically.
The teenage suspect was charged with Criminal Attempt at Murder, Home Invasion, Assault 1st, Reckless Endangerment 1st, Stalking 1st, Risk of Injury to a Minor, and Burglary 1st.
The teen was taken to a juvenile detention center.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and they do not expect any further arrest.
A Gofundme has been set up by a family friend to help the victim as they recover. Click here to donate.
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