CHELSEA, Mass. — A man in Chelsea has been seriously injured after being assaulted by two people with bats, police say.
The victim, described only as a man in his 20's, suffered a heavy blow to the head from what investigators believe was a baseball bat.
The man is employed by Alliance Security based in Everett. Alliance has a contract to provide security for the condos in that area, but, according to the company, the victim was not on duty at the time of the assault.
According to police, the incident happened near the tennis courts on Commandants Way at Admiral's Hill around 11:30 a.m. Monday.
Alliance Security issued a statement to Boston 25:
This afternoon we were notified by law enforcement officials that an off-duty employee of ours was a victim of a senseless crime. Our supports, thoughts, and prayers are with him and his family. We have no further comment.
The victim was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with what officials say are life-threatening injuries. Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes tweeted he was in critical condition early Tuesday.
Police said the suspects threw the weapon in Island End River behind the tennis courts as they fled from authorities.
According to police, the suspects were described as a Hispanic man in his early 20s with a husky build last seen wearing black shorts, a black t-shirt and a black hat, and a white woman in her early 20s with dirty blond hair and wearing green-colored shorts.
Tuesday morning, Kyes tweeted that a 17-year-old from Chelsea was arrested by state police detectives Monday night in connection with the alleged attack.
The teen, who was not named because he is a minor, is expected to be arraigned in Chelsea District Court Tuesday on charges of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious injury and armed assault with intent to murder, Keyes said.
Keyes added that no specific motive for the alleged attack has been established.
"I think it's a shame, if you ask me," said Steven Rhodes. "You got kids coming, you got babies coming. Tragic you have to use violence to do something when you clearly could just walk away from the situation."
The State Police Dive Team was assisting in retrieving the weapon believed to have been used in the assault by searching along the Mystic River and Chelsea Creek.
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