Hampton Beach stabbing: Police reveal details of what led to attack

HAMPTON — A police affidavit has revealed new details in the Dec. 3 stabbing that took place at Hampton Beach, with investigators alleging that it was a deliberate attack.

Joseph James Davis, 18, of Stratham, is currently being held in preventive detention on the felony charge of second-degree assault. He was arrested Dec. 7 for allegedly stabbing a 20-year-old man three times in the leg, puncturing an artery.

Davis is also charged with one misdemeanor count of breach of bail on a previous Seabrook arrest on the felony charge of an alleged nighttime burglary in that town.

Judge Andrew Schulman handed down an order allowing Davis the opportunity to be evaluated for pretrial release.

The program would allow Davis to be released with electronic monitoring, according to Schulman. He addressed Davis’s parents in court and explained that the program can include approval for work but is “very restrictive in terms of who they’ll let in.”

“If he is appropriate – big ‘if’ – then it will come back to court,” Schulman said.

Previous story: Stratham man, 18, charged with Hampton Beach stabbing

Hampton police: Argument leads to stabbing at Seawall

According to a police affidavit filed by Hampton police Detective Sgt. Christopher Keyser, the stabbing on Ocean Boulevard at the seawall at North Beach allegedly followed a dispute between Davis and the victim that began around noon and ended at around 7 p.m. The dispute concerned an unnamed female, according to the arrest affidavit, who was in the car with Davis, the victim and a witness, as they drove around together. At one point, the argument prompted the victim “to drop Davis and the female off in Hampton Falls,” according to the arrest affidavit.

But according to court documents, that wasn’t the end of the argument. The witness told police that as he and the victim drove around, he heard the victim and Davis continue their dispute over the phone.

The victim and the witness eventually ended up parked “at the seawall, on Ocean Boulevard near 12th Street, and smoked some weed inside the vehicle,” according to the affidavit. During that time, according to the affidavit, the witness told police, there was another phone conversation where he overheard the victim tell Davis, “You know where I am, pull up.”

Court documents indicate, that the witness said within “about two minutes,” he saw a vehicle drive towards them and stop, which is when Davis and others got out of the car. Davis approached the victim’s vehicle, according to the affidavit, and broke “the rear passenger side window with what (the witness) believed was the butt end of a knife.”

The victim then got out of his vehicle, according to court documents, and he and Davis began “scuffling,” with another male joining the fight. It was during the scuffle, according to the affidavit, that the victim fell to the ground, and the witness said he saw Davis “stabbing (the victim’s) leg.” 

The witness got out of the vehicle himself and got the victim into the vehicle, with the intent of driving to the hospital, according to court documents. However, while driving the witness realized how badly the victim was bleeding and pulled over to call for help, according to the affidavit.

Hampton police first became aware of the emergency at 7:27 p.m., when they received the witness’s 911 call asking for police and medical assistance to the High Street-Moulton Road area. When Hampton patrolman Brandon Whitehead reached the scene, according to court documents, he found an unresponsive victim bleeding heavily from his lower leg. Upon examination, Whitehead recognized the wound as one probably involving a severed artery, and he placed a tourniquet around the victim’s upper thigh. Hampton Fire and Rescue personnel arrived, treated, and transported him to the hospital.

Patrolmen Charles Karpenko, who also responded to the call, requested detectives to the scene, according to the affidavit.

Four Hampton detectives investigated the case, along with Keyser, according to the arrest affidavit he filed. Police identified all those they believe were involved in the incident and have interviewed witnesses.

According to Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno, the investigation is ongoing. Hampton police ask anyone with information on this case to call the department at 603-929-4444. Anonymous tips can be made through the Crimeline for the Hamptons at 603-929-1222.

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Davis was out on bail at time of Hampton arrest

Davis’ breach of bail charge relates to his not following the conditions established by the court in his prior arrest for an alleged burglary charge out of Seabrook. The Seabrook Police Department’s warrant affidavit relates to a May 8 nighttime burglary and criminal restraint charges, in which Davis was one of two men allegedly involved.

According to the affidavit, at about 1:30 a.m. on May 8, a woman called the Seabrook Police Department stating people broke into her “home, hit her in the head with a handgun and stole her prescription medication then left.” Seabrook police responded, finding the woman with a head injury consistent with being struck with a hard object, and the door of the home showing evidence of forced entry, according to court documents.

The woman identified the two suspects with Davis being one of them, according to the affidavit. After interviewing witnesses at the scene, police believe the man Davis was with was the one who allegedly broke in, struck the victim and stole the medication, according to the affidavit.

Police allege, however, that Davis aided the man in the crimes by driving him to the home to commit the crimes and that Davis also blocked the doorway, preventing the victim from leaving or interfering with the theft.

Nashua Police arrested Davis on the warrant on Oct. 14 and turned him over to Seabrook PD. Davis was out on bail from Rockingham Superior Court in Brentwood, where he was awaiting a hearing on the burglary charge.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton Beach stabbing: Police reveal details of what led to attack