Charlestown man charged with mayhem for cutting woman’s face

BOSTON, May 23, 2023 – A man was arraigned Monday in the Charlestown Division of Boston Municipal Court for slicing a woman’s face near her eyes with a razor blade while she was unconscious, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

ISMAIL MOHAMED, 40, is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, mayhem, and kidnapping. Judge Lisa Grant ordered Mohamed held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on May 25.

At about 5:50 a.m. on Monday, officers responded to a call for an assault in the basement apartment of 87 Cambridge Street in Charlestown. Officers located the suspect, later identified as Mohamed, sitting on a bed while the female victim was sitting on the floor, bleeding from her face. A large amount of blood was visible on a blanket and pillow also found on the floor. The victim appeared disoriented and unable to open her eyes. Officers observed severe bruising and swelling around both eyes, mouth and cheeks and multiple cuts above and beneath her eyelids. She was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Mohamed told police he was with the victim in the apartment when a fight ensued. He then fell asleep and when he woke up, discovered the victim to be suffering from the injuries. He then admitted to cutting the victim’s face to help reduce the swelling around her eyes.

Both Mohamed and the victim denied any domestic relationship. According to phone records, Mohamed was the 911 caller.

“We see violence take many forms, but an assailant cutting above and beneath a woman’s eyes in a stated attempt to ease the swelling caused by the assailant himself is both bizarre and disturbing.  As with all violent crime victims, this victim will be supported by prosecutors and victim witness advocates specially trained in these cases,” Hayden said. 

The victims of any crime, including domestic or sexual violence, should call 911 in an emergency.  SafeLink, a statewide DV hotline, can be reached at 877-785-2020.  SafeLink is answered by trained advocates 24/7 in English, Spanish and Portuguese, as well as TTY at 877-521-2601.  It also has the capacity to provide multilingual translation in more than 140 languages.

Help is also available for members of our LGBTQ+ community experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence through The Network/La Red by calling 617-742-4911 or 800-832-1901. 

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.

  James Borghesani, Chief of Communications