A terrifying series of stabbings unfolded in Braintree, Massachusetts, when four young girls at an AMC theater were attacked by a man identified as Jared Ravizza. The 26-year-old suspect from Martha’s Vineyard then stabbed two more people at a nearby McDonald’s before leading authorities on a high-speed pursuit.
The horrific incident started around 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2024 when Ravizza entered the AMC Braintree 10 theater without buying a ticket. The victims, four girls aged nine to 17, were in the theater to watch the family-friendly film “IF”, featuring Ryan Reynolds. Ravizza, described as a blond-haired man, launched a surprise knife attack, and laughed during it, on the girls, who were later treated at the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Lisa Dembowski, the mother of three of the victims, described the terrifying events to a local Boston media outlet. “They had just taken their seats and gotten their snacks when I received a call from my sister saying my oldest daughter had contacted her, urgently telling me to get to the AMC movie theater immediately because they had been stabbed,” Dembowski shared. She rushed to the theater to find her daughters and their friend had been assaulted.
Dembowski indicated that when the girls reported the incident to theater staff, they were not believed and had to call the police themselves. The Braintree Police Department confirmed that the suspect attacked the girls without any prior interaction or provocation before fleeing the scene.
After leaving the theater, Ravizza drove to a McDonald’s in Plymouth, Massachusetts, approximately 30 miles away. He stabbed a 29-year-old male employee through the drive-thru window and a 21-year-old female employee inside the restaurant. Both victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to local hospitals.
Authorities quickly identified Ravizza based on surveillance footage, witness descriptions, and his distinctive appearance, including long blond hair, sunglasses, and a large trench coat. His vehicle was later spotted by the Massachusetts State Police, which ended in a chase and Ravizza crashing his Porsche in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
Ravizza was arrested around 7:15 p.m. and taken to the hospital for treatment. Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz stated that Ravizza faces multiple charges, including assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. His possible connection with a murder case in Deep River, Connecticut, where a body was found earlier that day, is also under investigation.
An alert had been issued by the Connecticut State Police for Ravizza, describing him as “armed and dangerous” and carrying a 10-inch knife. A subsequent news release stated, “A suspect in this investigation has been taken into custody in the state of Massachusetts, and there is no active threat to the public.”
The Braintree community remains shocked by the attacks. Dembowski expressed her frustration with the AMC theater employees, who reportedly dismissed the girls’ claims and did not immediately alert the authorities. AMC has announced it is conducting a thorough review of the incident and will maintain a strong security presence at the Braintree location for the foreseeable future.
As the investigation continues with Ravizza in custody, authorities in both Massachusetts and Connecticut are trying to understand the events leading up to the violent spree. Neighbors and acquaintances from Martha’s Vineyard have depicted Ravizza as a troubled individual with erratic behavior in the past. The motive behind the attacks remains unclear, leaving the community puzzled. The victims, though traumatized, are expected to recover physically.
