Manchester Man Arrested In Connection With Nashua Hammer Attack

NASHUA, NH — A Manchester man, who is currently on parole, was arrested in connection with a hammer attack over the weekend in Nashua, according to the Nashua Police Department.

Jonathan Vargas, 34, was taken into custody Sunday by the NPD's Uniform Field Operations Bureau and charged with first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, a Class A felony, robbery, a class A felony, and falsifying physical evidence, a Class B felony, police said.

According to authorities, a class A felony is punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment, exclusive of fines, while a Class B Felony is punishable by up to seven years imprisonment, exclusive of fines.

Police said they also learned the suspect is on parole for a violent felony involving a deadly weapon in Manchester in 2019.

Vargas is being held on preventative detention and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in the Hillsborough County Superior Court-Southern District.

According to police reports, on Saturday, members of the NPD's Uniform Field Operations Bureau responded to a local address after a report of a male victim suffering facial injuries.

The victim, who has not been publicly identified, was transported to a local hospital. Later, he was taken to a Massachusetts hospital due to the severity of the injuries, police said.

The NPD said its officers learned the victim's injuries resulted from him being struck in the face with a hammer during an apparent attempted robbery.

According to the NPD, detectives with the department's Criminal Investigations Division located Vargas and identified him as the assailant. He was subsequently taken into custody.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the NPD's Criminal Line at 603-589-1665.