Man with hammer goes on mall rampage
Newington police said Michael Williams ran around the mall with the hammer claiming to be God.
Several shoppers actually got down on the floor, thinking someone was shooting a gun.
Witnesses said Williams sat down on a bench and tossed the hammer away before he was arrested. One young woman, who was working at one of the stores, was injured after his arrest when a piece of hanging glass fell on her as she was cleaning, police said.
Out of the six stores that were damaged, Kay Jewelers, Pandora, Yankee Candle, The Limited and Motherhood Maternity had all reopened Friday after inspection by the Newington Fire Department. Zales Jewelers was expected to be open by 2 p.m.
It happened during the middle of the busy holiday shopping season, late Thursday afternoon. Police said 34-year-old Michael Williams of Dover used a hammer and went on a violent, costly and terrifying tear inside Newington’s Fox Run Mall.
Authorities said Williams smashed glass and other property at six different mall stores.
“It was a real volatile situation, real chaotic situation at the mall,” said Newington police prosecutor Brian Newcomer.
Newcomer asked for $10,000 bail, which the judge granted.
“I think that he’s a danger to the public,” said Newcomer. “Earlier in the day, before this incident happened late in the afternoon, he was arrested in Somersworth. He was charged with a couple of counts: simple assault, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and reckless conduct, and it was just a few hours later that this incident happened."
Williams was accused of doing more than $10,000 in damage.
“People thought they were being robbed, other people thought gunshots were going off. The potential for somebody to get hurt was great,” said Newcomer.
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