Police Respond To Stabbing In Downtown Nantucket On Tuesday

A reported stabbing in downtown Nantucket on Tuesday morning set off a chaotic scene along The Strip, and ended with a man being rushed to Nantucket Cottage Hospital, and the alleged assailant in custody.

Nantucket Police, Massachusetts State Police, and EMTs responded to the area of South Beach Street just before 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, roping off the alley that runs behind The Juice Bar and The Rose & Crown with police tape, and attending to a man bleeding on the sidewalk. The person was alert and conscious while talking to first responders as they treated his injuries before being taken away by ambulance. The suspect, who was identified Wednesday morning as Kemar K. Downer, of 99 Washington Street, Nantucket, was arrested at the scene and taken away in handcuffs. Downer is being charged with aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and will be arraigned Wednesday morning in Nantucket District Court.

Witnesses at the scene told the Current that the stabbing occurred following a verbal and physical altercation between the driver of a Myles Reis garbage truck and Downer, who was driving a Sayles Seafood delivery truck that had parked in the area.

After the altercation, the man who had been stabbed ran towards The Strip, witnesses said, where staff members of Stubbys and other businesses attempted to stop the bleeding with napkins before first responders arrived. 

Just before noon on Tuesday, the Nantucket Police Department released the following statement on the incident:

"On June 23, 2026 at 10:23 a.m., the Nantucket Police Department responded to South Beach Street between Broad Street and Oak Street for a reported ‘stabbing’. The reporting party stated that the two persons involved in the incident were still on location. Patrol Officers, Detectives and Community Service Officers quickly arrived on location. The injured person in this incident was treated on scene and transported to Nantucket Cottage Hospital by the Nantucket Fire Department. The second involved person has been detained at the incident scene. This case is being actively investigated and no further details will be released at this time."

This is a developing story. More details as we learn them….