Police: Teen Tried to Kill Mother with Hammer, Knife

Salem Police have the suspect in Thursday morning's reported assault on Cluff Crossing Road in custody and are preparing to charge him with first-degree assault, though those charges are likely to be upgraded.

Thomas George, 18, of Salem, allegedly stabbed his mother, Catherine George, multiple times with a knife and hit her with a hammer prior to fleeing the scene in a green Kia Sephia owned by the family prior to police responding to a reported domestic disturbance at 8 a.m.

Salem Deputy Chief Shawn Patten said George led police to Derry, where he dumped the vehicle. As police converged on the area with K9s and search teams, George reportedly stole a green Chevy Blazer and drove it back to Salem.

Patten said police received a tip from a citizen who recognized George from news reports.

George allegedly left the Blazer near the Rockingham Park racetrack and crossed Rockingham Park Boulevard before running behind the Shaw's shopping center and then into his apartment complex at 103 Cluff Crossing Road. Patten said police apprehended him at the scene of the crime without incident around 11:20 a.m.
Patten said George remains in good physical condition, though the teen's mother was medflighted to Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital. The extent of her injuries and her present condition are currently unknown.

Salem High School and schools in Derry were placed in lockdown while police searched for George.

"Anytime you have a suspect who was just involved in an attempted homicide of his mother – and this morning officers on scene did not recover the knife or the hammer – so we had an 18-year-old suspect on the lose, after attempting to kill his mother, out in the community," said Patten. "Anytime that happens, we're concerned."

Patten said George attends SHS as a night student and his younger brother attends during the day. No other Salem schools were impacted by Thursday morning's events.

George is set to be arraigned at Salem District Court at 2 p.m.

Patten said he could only confirm that the 18-year-old is being charged with first-degree  assault, though he noted the charges are likely to be upgraded. Patten also confirmed police have possession of both alleged weapons and both vehicles used in Thursday morning's manhunt.

"Obviously, once we get word on the victim's condition and everything else, we'll go from there and upgrade the charges working with Rockingham County Attorney's Office," said Patten.