NH teen wanted for Mass. home invasion, stabbing over sneakers turns himself in

TYNGSBOROUGH, Mass. — A 19-year-old New Hampshire man wanted in connection with a home invasion and stabbing in Tyngsborough has turned himself in, police say.

Tyngsborough Police say on Thursday night, 19-year-old Dequan Hagen of Nashua, New Hampshire went to a home on Frost Road to buy a pair of sneakers.

"They had made some sort of a deal, a third party was involved, knew this individual the suspect, had set this sale up," Police Chief Richard Howe said. "He went to the house, at some point something went wrong , there was some kind of dispute.”

A fight reportedly began when Hagen allegedly tried to leave the house without paying for the shoes.

Police say Hagen fled the house in his car after the attempted theft, but then returned with a knife, forced his way into the home and assaulted the victim. The victim, a 17-year-old man, was taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening stab wounds to his stomach.

A source first told Boston 25 News reporter Evan White that the suspect had turned himself in to Tyngsborough Police around 8 p.m. Police later confirmed the news, and said the suspect got help from a probation officer.

Responding officers say they found damage to the door of the garage and blood on the floor.

"I want to reassure Tyngsborough residents that this was not a random crime." Howe said.

Hagen was wanted by Tyngsborough Police and will be charged with armed robbery, home invasion, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, and malicious destruction of property over $1,200.

"It’s very sad and I feel sorry for the families and it’s very close to home," Tricia Wilkins, who used to live near Frost Road, said.

A family friend of Hagen told Boston 25 News the suspect was distraught over the attack and wanted to turn himself in.

Chief Howe wants to remind residents that the Tyngsborough Police Department is available as a safe meetup spot for those completing online transactions in town.

"We highly recommend never doing it at your personal home, even a public place, a police department," Howe said. There's national programs, even our small little parking lot, we have a sign and a parking spot just for that purpose.”

Cox Media Group