Cape Cod man with priors to be examined to determine competency after random stabbing of girl at department store

A Cape Cod man was arraigned and is facing multiple charges after an incident at a department store.

According to police, on Thursday at just after 12:30 p.m., 31-year-old Nikolas Rescigno of Hyannis, was arrested for stabbing a teenage female at the Dollar Tree Store in Hyannis. Barnstable Police Officers were dispatched to the Dollar Tree Store where Rescigno was taken into custody without further incident. The young female was transported to a local hospital by Barnstable Fire Department Rescue personnel where she is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

According to witnesses, Rescigno 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. Rescigno is unknown to the victim and this attack appears to be random and unprovoked. Also, according to the witnesses, Rescigno stayed on scene in the foyer staring at the victim and eventually dropped the knife upon request from a bystander.

Nikolas Rescigno was transported to the Barnstable Police facility, where he was booked and charged with Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon with Serious Bodily Injury, Disorderly Conduct and Carrying a Dangerous Weapon. Rescigno also had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court from another incident involving a knife at the Cape Cod Mall in May of 2023.

An initial bail for Rescigno was set by the bail magistrate at $5000.

At his arraignment Friday morning in Barnstable District Court, Rescigno was ordered to be examined to determine competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility.

He was held without bail and has a hearing on the status of the evaluation on November 26th.