BRAINTREE – The man accused of stabbing six people in Braintree and Plymouth is being held for a competency examination.
Four girls were stabbed inside a Braintree movie theater Saturday by a man who fled, stabbed two more people in Plymouth and later crashed in Sandwich, police said.
Jared Ravizza, of Chilmark on Martha's Vineyard, was arraigned in Plymouth District Court on one count of assault to murder, two counts of assault and battery and indecent exposure in connection with the stabbing of two employees at a rest area McDonald's on Saturday.
He wore no shoes Tuesday morning as troopers escorted him to court, where, after a brief hearing, the mental health evaluation was ordered. After a few hours, a doctor told the court that Ravizza does appear to have delusions, trouble focusing and voices in his head that tell him to do things.
Ravizza was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for additional evaluation over the next 20 days. Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said Ravizza is next scheduled to appear in court June 17.
He also faces four counts of assault to murder and four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Quincy District Court in connection with the stabbing of four girls in the movie theater that same day.
Connecticut State Police said charges are pending in the case of a homicide that was also discovered Saturday.
Ravizza allegedly stabbed four girls in a movie theater
Braintree police said Ravizza went into the AMC Braintree 10 movie theater about 6 p.m. Saturday, passed the ticket counter and went into one of the theaters. Inside, he approached four girls, ages 9 to 17.
"Without saying anything and without any warning, he suddenly attacked and stabbed the four young females," the police department's press release said. "The attack appeared to be unprovoked."
He then ran out of the theater and fled in a vehicle. The girls were taken to Boston hospitals with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Lisa Dembowski said the stabbing victims were her three daughters and one of their friends.
"So they were the only four people in this movie theater. They had just sat down. They had just got their concessions," Dembowski said to WCVB-TV, a news partner of The Patriot Ledger. "I guess he came up behind them in the row – they were in the second row – and he came up behind them. My oldest was leaned over to get something. He got her in the back and then my other daughter in the top of the chest. Then, my last daughter across her arm – laughing the whole time – and then got their friend and then ran off."
"The welfare of our guests and associates is AMC’s top priority, and we are saddened by this senseless act of violence. We are heartened to learn the victims are recovering, and we are reaching out to their families privately," AMC said in a statement to WCVB-TV. "Based on theatre associate accounts and video footage, the theatre team jumped into action immediately, calling emergency services and administering aid to the victims."
Officers reviewed video footage that captured the license plate of the black SUV in which the man fled. Officers then put out a broadcast for other departments to keep an eye out for the SUV, police said.
Similar attack reported in Plymouth
Just after 7 p.m., State Police started receiving 911 calls reporting a stabbing at the McDonalds inside the Route 3 Park and Ride in Plymouth.
Troopers found a 21-year-old woman and 29-year-old man, both employees of the restaurant, with stab wounds.
Cruz later said surveillance footage shows Ravizza reach through the drive-thru window and stab the man with a large knife. Ravizza then left the drive-thru, parked the Porsche SUV he was driving, entered the restaurant and stabbed the female employee.
The woman was taken to South Shore Hospital in Weymouth and the man was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Plymouth, both with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
State Police located and pursued Ravizza's car, which crashed in Sandwich. The man was taken into custody and to the hospital for treatment about 7:15 p.m. Saturday.
Cruz said Ravizza will face multiple charges in Plymouth District Court on Tuesday, including assault with intent to murder and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon stemming from the Plymouth attack.
Possible link to death in Connecticut
According to WCVB-TV, authorities in Connecticut are investigating the death of a person found at an address in Deep River on Saturday.
"A suspect in this investigation has been taken into custody in the state of Massachusetts, and there is no active threat to the public," Connecticut State Police said in a news release.
