The incident began with an alleged confrontation between two men at a popular ice cream shop on the island. According to a police report, Downer was delivering juice to The Juice Bar when the Reis Trucking employee began punching him in the back of the head.
Downer allegedly told police he did not know the man, though they were from the same parish in Jamaica. He said he turned around, was kicked and then pulled a pocketknife from his waistband, swinging it toward the alleged victim two or three times.
A witness also reported that Downer went into The Juice Bar looking for another knife in case the alleged victim returned, and grabbed a 10- to 12-inch kitchen knife before employees took it away.
The alleged victim suffered a punctured lung and had a 2.5-inch open laceration on his left arm that was likely to require surgery and leave significant scarring.
Downer was arrested nearby on South Beach Street by Nantucket police Sgt. Travis Ray after being found sitting in a chair on the sidewalk.
The daytime violence has rattled Nantucket as the wealthy coastal enclave enters peak summer season, when its year-round population swells with vacationers, day-trippers, seasonal workers and affluent homeowners.
