Northland fistfight escalates when one man uses a hammer

A 32-year-old man needed 19 staples and stitches to close wounds in his head after another man attacked him with a hammer early Monday in the Northland.

According to Kansas City police, the victim had agreed to meet the attacker about 2:30 a.m. in the 400 block of Northwest Englewood Road for a fistfight. The attacker reportedly had called and threatened to kill the victim, who is dating a former girlfriend of the attacker. After receiving several threatening voicemails, the victim called the attacker and agreed to meet him.

The victim said the attacker approached and asked for him by name. They fought and the victim knocked the attacker to the ground. The victim then saw the attacker reach around to his back and pull something from his waistband. He attacked with the hammer, hitting the victim in the head about 12 times, the victim said. All the while, the attacker was threatening to kill him, the victim said.

The attacker stole the victim’s wallet and cellphone before fleeing. The victim walked to a friend’s house, and the friend took him to a hospital. Doctors said he suffered a depressed skull fracture. Police reports also noted he lost teeth in the attack.