CNHI News Service

SALISBURY, Mass. -- —A homeless man accused of striking a “friend” repeatedly with a hatchet Sunday while they were walking together has been arrested in Manchester, N.H.

Jay LaRose, 43, was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault to murder Stephen Noyes, 46. He was hit at least five times in the head with the roughly 8-inch-long hatchet, police said.

The attack left Noyes in critical condition and required 100 staples to close the gaping wounds to his head. His condition was upgraded to “good” Wednesday, according to police.

Acting Salisbury police Chief Richard Merrill said it appears the attack was unprovoked, adding that both LaRose and Noyes were heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident. In the weeks leading up to the attack, LaRose and Noyes were seen on multiple occasions walking together around Salisbury Square.

The hatchet police said was used to injure Noyes was recovered and turned over to state police for analysis.

Noyes also has a lengthy police record, authorities said.

Information for this story was provided by the Newburyport (Mass.) Daily News.