A late-night 911 call to a Webster apartment ended with a man bloodied from multiple hammer blows and his girlfriend in handcuffs, according to police.
Officers were called to an apartment on Mechanic Street in the early morning hours, where emergency crews treated a man with several lacerations. Police say his girlfriend, 30-year-old Rachel Moore-McNeil of Webster, struck him multiple times with a hammer. She was taken into custody after what officers described as a brief struggle and later arraigned in Dudley District Court.
Officers assigned to the overnight shift responded around 1:22 a.m. after an anonymous report of a woman hitting her boyfriend, according to Boston 25 News. When officers arrived, they reported hearing a disturbance inside the apartment and made contact with a man and a woman. Police say the man’s injuries were consistent with being struck in the head and back several times with a hammer. Investigators also say the same woman allegedly stabbed the victim a week earlier, causing severe lacerations, according to the outlet.
Legal implications
Moore-McNeil was charged with assault and battery on a family or household member, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault to maim, and resisting arrest. Prosecutors typically pursue those counts aggressively when weapons and serious injuries are alleged.
Assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon is codified in M.G.L. c.265 §15A and can be prosecuted as a felony punishable by up to 10 years in state prison. Assault with intent to maim is governed by G.L. c.265 §15 and carries similarly severe penalties. The Commonwealth’s complaint guidance and court materials explain that aggravated counts are common when an object is used to inflict serious injury or when the alleged victim is a household member.
How the arrest unfolded
As reported by Boston 25 News, officers say Moore-McNeil resisted when they tried to handcuff her and were forced to take her to the ground to safely secure her. After a brief struggle, she was arrested and the victim was treated by EMS. Moore-McNeil was arraigned on Friday, June 12, in Dudley District Court. Police described the investigation as ongoing as detectives follow up on both the hammer incident and the earlier stabbing allegation.
Resources and next steps
The Webster Police Department is handling the investigation. The department’s public page lists the non-emergency number and a crime-tips line for people with information about the case. Prosecutors will decide whether to file additional charges as investigators complete their work and the court docket is updated.
For anyone affected by intimate-partner violence, SafeLink, Massachusetts’ statewide domestic violence hotline operated by Casa Myrna, offers confidential 24/7 assistance at 1-877-785-2020 and can connect callers with local support and shelter resources.
