An evening at an AMC theater in Braintree, Massachusetts transformed into a scene of terror for four young girls when a man, known as Jared Ravizza, initiated a sudden stabbing rampage. The 26-year-old Martha’s Vineyard resident further attacked two individuals at a McDonald’s nearby before engaging in a high-speed pursuit with the police.
The unnerving chain of events began around 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2024, with Ravizza entering the AMC Braintree 10 theater without a ticket. The girls, aged nine to 17, were alone in the theater watching “IF,” a kid-friendly movie featuring Ryan Reynolds. Ravizza, characterized by his long blond hair, unexpectedly assaulted the girls with a knife, laughing throughout the incident. The girls were later discharged from the hospital with non-critical injuries. One victim was stabbed in the back, another in the upper chest, and the third in the arm.
Lisa Dembowski, mother to three of the victims, relayed the frightening moments to a Boston local 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,” said Dembowski. She quickly arrived at the scene to find her daughters and their friend had been assaulted.
Dembowski stated that when the girls reported the incident to theater staff, they were dismissed. The girls were left to contact the police on their own.
The Braintree Police Department stated that Ravizza attacked the four girls without any previous indication or interaction. The assault seemed to be purely unprovoked. Following the attack, Ravizza fled the scene and took off in his vehicle.
After leaving the theater, Ravizza drove his black 2018 Porsche Macan to a McDonald’s in Plymouth, located about 30 miles away. He allegedly stabbed a 29-year-old male employee through the drive-thru window. Subsequently, he parked his vehicle, entered the restaurant, and stabbed a 21-year-old female employee. Both victims were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities identified Ravizza quickly with the help of surveillance footage and eyewitness descriptions, which highlighted his distinctive look— a large trench coat, sunglasses, and long blond hair. Massachusetts State Police spotted Ravizza’s vehicle, leading to a car chase that concluded when Ravizza crashed his Porsche in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
Police arrested Ravizza around 7:15 p.m. and transported him to the hospital for treatment. He now faces several charges, including assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, as stated by Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz. Ravizza is also a person of interest in a murder case in Deep River, Connecticut, where a body was discovered earlier that day.
The Connecticut State Police had issued an alert for Ravizza, describing him as “armed and dangerous” with a 10-inch knife. “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 State Police confirmed in a news release later.
The Braintree community is shaken up by the attacks. Lisa Dembowski expressed disappointment with the initial response from AMC employees, who reportedly dismissed the girls’ report and failed to act promptly. “They said they all went out, they told the people at AMC, the AMC didn’t believe them, didn’t do anything, actually, and they had to call the police themselves,” Dembowski said.
AMC has announced a full review of the incident and plans to maintain a visible security presence at the Braintree location for the foreseeable future. “All our locations have multiple security measures and procedures in place, though we do not publicly share the details,” a spokesperson noted.
While Ravizza remains in custody, investigators from both Massachusetts and Connecticut are working to understand the events leading up to the violent spree. Ravizza, known by his Martha’s Vineyard neighbors and acquaintances as a troubled individual with erratic behavior, is still under investigation.
Authorities have not yet established a motive for the attacks, which continue to perplex the community. Although the victims are expected to recover physically, they are left traumatized. The incident has initiated discussions about public place security measures and the necessity for swift, effective responses to emergencies.