A 70-year-old Massachusetts man is accused of attempting to drown an injured 21-year-old during a heated confrontation over a jet ski.
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Steven Dana faces charges including attempted murder, strangulation, and assault and battery on a disabled person following the incident, which was captured on video.
The confrontation unfolded on Wednesday at Sandy Beach on Lake Maspenock in Hopkinton.
Attempted Murder Charge Filed After Lakefront Altercation
According to reports, Matthew Duffy and his group were using a boat ramp with their jet ski. Dana, who lives on the lake, then approached them.
Authorities say Dana became upset about the noise coming from the jet ski. He attempted to remove the group from the water.
Duffy was using crutches after suffering serious injuries in an accident several months earlier.
Video recorded by members of the group shows the argument escalating as tensions rose between the two sides.
At one point, Duffy told Dana to "let me have fun with my jet ski," but Dana refused.
Some members of Duffy's group could also be heard saying, "You're not going to do s—-t," as the confrontation intensified.
Video Captures Violent Struggle in the Water
According to reports, Dana threatened to call the police before asking Duffy if he wanted him to shoot him.
"Are you going to beat up a cr*pple?" one of Duffy's friends asked the agitated man.
"I don't care, I'll take a cr*pple," Dana responded.
Moments later, Dana allegedly slapped Duffy across the face, and the pair began grappling before falling into the lake.
Video footage reportedly shows Dana holding Duffy underwater until three other men intervened and separated the two.
"I was so scared for my life because I can't fight back, I broke practically everything, and this guy's on top of me under the water, I can't see what's going on, I can't fight back," Duffy told WCVB.
"He literally came up to me and my friends, and was instantly being aggressive and rude for no reason, in trying to kick us out of a public space."
"We weren't having it, so we weren't moving, and then he eventually came down after we were arguing with each other, and then more arguing led to him attacking me and then shoving me in the water, and I needed my friends to help me get up."
Authorities said both men declined medical treatment following the incident.
Dana was arraigned in Framingham District Court on Thursday and initially held without bail. A judge later released him on a $7,500 cash bond.
Duffy said he is "fuming" over the decision and accused Dana of trying to kill him.
