Police Arrest Man Accused of Hitting Person With Ax Handle at Hamden Gas Station

Police have arrested a man who is accused of hitting a person with an ax handle during an argument at a Hamden gas station last month.

Police have identified the suspect as 42-year-old Jesus Massa-Nunez, of Hamden.

They said he “became very upset” when a 50-year-old Hamden resident backed up a vehicle near the gas pumps at the Gulf Gas Station at 1624 Dixwell Avenue on Friday, Nov. 9 and they got into an argument.

During the argument, Massa-Nunez took an ax handle from his vehicle and hit the victim in the torso several times, then drove off, according to police.

Authorities released a photo to the media and asked for help to identify the man.

After seeing his photo on television, Massa-Nunez went to the Hamden Police Department on Nov. 15 and told police that he hit the victim in “self-defense,” police said.

Police investigated and obtained an arrest warrant charging Massa-Nunez with assault in the second degree and breach of peace in the second degree.