Brookline Man, 20, Dies After Morning Stabbing: District Attorney

BROOKLINE, MA — A 20-year-old Brookline man died after he was stabbed early Tuesday morning in Amory Park, marking the first homicide in the town in more than a decade.

Nicolas "Cole" Kern, of Brookline, died at Beth Israel Hospital, according to Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey's office. He was brought to the hospital around 1:30 a.m. in serious condition.

Local and state police and a K-9 unit spent much of the early Tuesday morning sweeping the park on Amory Street, taping off large portions.

"We don't believe this was a random act, that neighborhood has always been very safe," Brookline Police Superintendent Michael Gropman told Patch. "There should be no cause for any type of public alarm. It's obviously a horrific incident but it was not a random act."

UPDATE: Stabbing At Amory Park: Brookline Man Arrested, Charged With Murder

Such a violence is rare for Brookline. The last murder was in 2006, according to municipal data.

Still there have been some serious incidents throughout the years: In 2016 there was a shooting and double stabbing on St. Paul Street, which prompted lockdowns at schools and shook the town.

Officials did not say whether they had identified any suspects in the case, but did say police were still investigating.

"Brookline Police and State Police detectives attached to Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey's Office continue to investigate the overnight stabbing of a young man in Brookline's Amory Park," a DA spokesperson said Tuesday night.

Based on current trends in investigations, it's likely video footage in the area will play a part in the investigation as police look for a suspect.

Amory Park is an 8.2-acre swath of land that includes a playground, Hall's Pond Sanctuary and Amory Woods, within the Cottage Farm Local Historic District. The park includes six clay tennis courts, a baseball and one softball diamond, benches a field and picnic tables.

Fatal Stabbing Stuns Brookline Neighborhood

Previously on Patch:

• FBI Crime Stats: Where Brookline Stands
• Woman Attacked On Beacon Street: Police Call it Hate
• Arrests Down: Brookline Police Release 2018 Year
• Stabbing At Amory Park: Brookline Man Arrested, Charged With Murder
• Fatal Stabbing Stuns Brookline Neighborhood

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).