Chilmark man charged Sunday in Plymouth stabbing; ‘likely’ connection to Braintree attacks

“I think they’re terrified that they could just go to the movies on a Saturday night and something like this could happen – someone could just go to the movies and do something like this,” Dembowski said.

The attacks on the four girls were part of a violent night in the area on Saturday, when authorities said a Chilmark man stabbed two McDonald’s.‘s worker in Plymouth and then crashed his Porsche while trying to flee from state police in Sandwich.

Authorities have arrested Jared Ravizza, 26, and faces a variety of charges in connection with the attack at the restaurant, including assault with intent to murder. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Plymouth District Court on Tuesday, according to Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz.

Both state police and Braintree police have said the crimes in Braintree and Plymouth appear to be related. Two police officials briefed on the investigation confirmed to the Globe Sunday that Ravizza is under investigation for the theater attack.

Ravizza was previously arrested by police in West Tisbury on Martha’s Vineyard in April and charged with assault on a family or household member and vandalism after allegedly attacking his father, according to Edgartown District Court records.

In a police report filed with the court, Ravizza’s father told officers that Ravizza “had just had a nervous breakdown and attacked him in his home,” and the father sustained injuries to his face, thumb and wrist, police said. Ravizza also trashed his father’s study, the report said.

He was taken to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, but Ravizza “did not meet the standards required for incarceration,” the report said. According to court records, diversion proceedings have been initiated in the Edgartown case, with a session scheduled for November.

As of Sunday, the investigation into the stabbings was ongoing, but there was no indication that Ravizza knew any of his alleged victims. In Plymouth, authorities said the attack occurred following a wage dispute.

Dembowski told a billiards reporter on Sunday that she had no idea who attacked her daughters and their friend at the Braintree Theater or why.

“I hope he gets what he deserves. I mean, I know something about mental health, I’m a counselor.” … I think it’s pretty sick to harm children,” Dembowski said.

Her oldest daughter suffered a back injury, another had an injury to her upper chest and the other twin sister suffered cuts to her arm, Dembowski said. She said AMC staff did not believe the girls when they said they had been stabbed, and her 17-year-old had to call police.

A theater employee referred a reporter to an AMC media hotline on Sunday. The company did not respond to requests for comment.

The girls were taken to Boston Medical Center “due to the nature of their injuries,” she said.

Dembowski said she was proud of the coolness her eldest daughter maintained during the attack.

“I give her great praise because, in my opinion, she and her friend completely calmed the two little ones down,” said Dembowski.

Dembowski praised the work of the police and paramedics who were on site after the attack: “They were so sensitive and friendly,” she said. Hospital staff who treated the four girls also helped to calm them down, she said.

She is still frustrated that her children and friends have been victims of violence.

“Parents get sick when they take their children anywhere or let them go anywhere without them,” she said.

After the attack in Braintree, the attacker fled in a black SUV, authorities said.

About an hour later, Plymouth police received several 911 calls reporting that two McDonald’s employees had been stabbed at the rest stop on Route 3 around 7 p.m. Both employees were hospitalized for stabbing injuries, according to Cruz.

Investigators reviewed the restaurant’s surveillance video and said it showed Ravizza “allegedly reaching through the drive-thru window and stabbing the male victim with a large knife,” the statement said.

McDonald’s did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday.

Ravizza left the drive-thru in an SUV, parked the car, entered the McDonald’s and stabbed the woman, Cruz said. He then returned to his car and fled.

A witness at the McDonald’s reported the license plate number of Ravizza’s black 2018 Porsche Macan to Massachusetts State Police, and it was determined that the vehicle was registered to him, Cruz’s statement said.

State police attempted to stop Ravizza’s Porsche, but he did not stop and the vehicle crashed a short time later, officials said.

He was arrested in Sandwich around 7:15 p.m. by state police and local police on Cotuit Road near the intersection with Asa Meiggs Road, according to Sandwich Police Chief Jason Keene. Ravizza was taken to South Shore Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, Cruz said. Ravizza remained hospitalized Sunday.

Massachusetts authorities also learned that an alert for Ravizza’s arrest had been issued to law enforcement due to “other incidents,” Cruz’s statement said.

State police in Connecticut reported a fatal stabbing attack that ended with the arrest of a suspect by Massachusetts State Police on Saturday. Authorities in Connecticut or Massachusetts have not confirmed whether Ravizza was a suspect in the case.

The Connecticut stabbing victim was found dead at “an address” in Deep River, Connecticut, after police responded to a report of a disturbance there at 3:36 p.m. Saturday, Connecticut State Police said.

The identity of the victim was not confirmed on Sunday.

“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 brief statement. They referred further questions about any connections to Massachusetts State Police.

A spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police would not confirm a connection between Ravizza and the death in Connecticut on Sunday.

Globe writers Mike Bello and Nick Stoico contributed to this report

You can reach John Hilliard at [email protected]. You can reach Daniel Kool at [email protected]. Follow him @dekool01.