A 26-year-old man from Chilmark, Massachusetts, named Jared Ravizza, faced charges in court on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in a stabbing spree that took place over the weekend in Plymouth and Braintree. Ravizza was arrested on Saturday and charged with assault with intent to murder. Upon appearing in court, his public defender requested a psychiatric evaluation, which the judge granted.
Interestingly, investigators in Connecticut also identified Ravizza as a person of interest in connection with a homicide that occurred in Deep River on the same Saturday. Ravizza pleaded not guilty, and his attorney declined to comment outside the courthouse.
The series of incidents began in Braintree when emergency crews responded to a local AMC movie theater where four girls had been stabbed. Approximately an hour later, police received another call from Plymouth regarding an incident at a McDonald’s drive-thru. Ravizza allegedly reached through the drive-thru window and stabbed a victim. He then entered the restaurant and stabbed another person before fleeing the scene.
The four girls who were stabbed in Braintree, identified as 9-year-old twins, their 17-year-old sister, and another 17-year-old girl, are all expected to survive. Similarly, the individuals who were stabbed in Plymouth are also expected to recover.
Ravizza’s crime spree came to an end when he crashed his Porsche SUV in Sandwich. Authorities apprehended him, and he was held in custody until his arraignment.
During the court proceedings, prosecutors provided a timeline of events, including the attack at the Plymouth McDonald’s. Ravizza got into an argument with a male employee at the drive-thru window and then lunged out of his vehicle, stabbing the employee in the forearm with a large kitchen knife. He subsequently entered the store and stabbed a female employee in the back of her upper left arm.
Ravizza is set to be arraigned in Quincy District Court for the Braintree stabbing. The exact date and time of the arraignment are yet to be determined.
Meanwhile, in Connecticut, state police stated that their investigation into the Deep River homicide is still ongoing, and criminal charges are pending.
Lisa Dembrowski, the mother of three of the victims from the AMC theater in Braintree, spoke to reporters over the weekend, expressing her children’s shaken state after the incident. AMC, in a statement, expressed sadness over the act of violence and assured the public of an increased security presence at the Braintree AMC for the foreseeable future.
One of the employees at the Plymouth McDonald’s who was stabbed, Igor Marques, shared that he is doing okay. He played a crucial role in helping police identify Ravizza. When asked if he felt like a hero, Marques humbly responded, “I’m not a hero,” and mentioned that he was fine.
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz emphasized his focus on the victims and their well-being. He expressed the need to stand up for those who were hurt unnecessarily and had their lives endangered.
Following his court appearance, Ravizza was interviewed by a court clinician, as per the recommendation of the clinician, the judge ordered Ravizza to undergo further evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital for the next 20 days. Ravizza’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 17.
In conclusion, this disturbing stabbing spree has left several individuals injured and a community shaken. While the legal process unfolds, it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of the victims and address any underlying mental health concerns that may have contributed to these violent acts.
