Marblehead man accused of attacking roommate with axe

MARBLEHEAD – A Marblehead man is in jail after police say he attacked his roommate with an axe in a bloody assault that sent the man to Massachusetts General Hospital.Michael Kelley, 52, of 296 Washington St. #1A, Marblehead, was arrested Thursday night and charged with aggravated assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and domestic assault and battery.Lynn District Court Judge James Wexler ordered Kelley held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing at his arraignment Friday.According to court records, two Marblehead Police officers went to the Washington Street address at 9:40 p.m. Thursday for a report of a fight. Upon entering the apartment, officer Daniel Katz wrote in his report that he and another officer walked into the kitchen to find blood “splattered on the floor, walls and the ceiling.””There was so much blood it was coagulating,” the report states.The report states there were two men in the kitchen covered in blood, standing at the sink washing blood off of themselves. They were identified as Michael Kelley and Bradford Kelley, roommates with the same last name but unrelated, police said.Michael Kelley told officers he and Bradford Kelley got into an argument and he hit Bradford Kelley with an axe, said the report. Officers then arrested Michael Kelley and took him to the station, where the report states he told officers that Bradford Kelley was angry with him because he owed rent money.”Michael Kelley stated Bradford Kelley came into his bedroom to argue with him so he attempted to push him out of his room,” said the report. “Michael Kelley stated that Bradford Kelley began punching him with his fists and hitting him with a shovel and then with a guitar.”Michael then stated he got tired of being assaulted so he picked up the axe and hit Bradford Kelley with it, said the report.The report states that Bradford Kelley was taken to Salem Hospital and then to Massachusetts General Hospital with a “serious laceration” to his wrist.”Blood appeared to be squirting all over the place,” Lt. Michael Everett wrote in his report. “It appeared to be a wound made by a cutting instrument, and it looked that you could see bone. After surveying the apartment I saw a bloody axe lying in the living room.”While at the hospital, Bradford Kelley told police he was out buying a 12-pack of beer with a friend and when they returned, Michael Kelley appeared to be “highly agitated and extremely angry,” said the report.Bradford Kelley said Michael Kelley yelled at him, “Do you want to go with me?” before swinging the axe and striking him in the wrist, said the report.Bradford Kelley said he grabbed the axe with both hands and wrestled with Michael Kelley to confiscate the axe, said the report. He continued to fight with Michael Kelley until police arrived, said the report.Bradford Kelley told police he didn’t think the rent issue was the reason for the attack, but said he does suspect Michael Kelley became jealous because he arrived home with a woman he said Michael Kelley had “some sort of a relationship” with.Bradford Kelley was stabilized at the hospital with two slice wounds to his right wrist,” said the report.Michael Kelley is due back in court on Dec. 12.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].