Massachusetts man arrested after stabbing attack in AMC theater, McDonald's injured 6 people

A Massachusetts man was taken into custody after six people, including four girls at a movie theater, were stabbed in separate attacks that state and local authorities say may be connected.

The four girls were stabbed in an "unprovoked" attack Saturday night at a movie theater in Braintree, a city about 13 miles south of Boston, police said. The girls, ages ranging from 9 to 17, were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at the scene and transported to Boston hospitals.

About an hour later, a 21-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man were stabbed at a McDonald's in Plymouth, a coastal town about 27 miles southeast of Braintree, according to Massachusetts State Police. The two victims were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

While the two attacks occurred in different areas, Braintree police said that it "appears as though the crimes are related."

Braintree police said the suspect's vehicle was identified by authorities and state police pursued the vehicle, which crashed in Sandwich, about 45 miles southeast of Braintree. The driver was then taken into custody and brought to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

The suspect was identified as Jared Ravizza, 26, of Chilmark, the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office announced Sunday. 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.

The country district attorney's office said the investigation remains active and ongoing by Massachusetts State Police.

'They looked like they just saw a horror movie'

The man walked into the AMC Braintree 10 at about 6 p.m. Saturday, barged past the ticket counter without paying and entered one of the theaters, police said. "Without saying anything and without any warning, he suddenly attacked and stabbed the four young females," police added.

The man then fled the theater and drove away in a black SUV, according to police. Authorities were able to review surveillance footage and later traced his movements, including capturing the vehicle's license plate.

“They looked like they just saw a horror movie and not a kid’s movie,” moviegoer Mateo Rojas told Boston25 news. “The kids came out looking really shocked.”

Massachusetts police find suspect vehicle in another city

A vehicle matching police's description was reportedly involved in an assault in Plymouth, police said.

Massachusetts State Police received several calls at around 7 p.m. reporting a stabbing of two employees and McDonald's, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office. Surveillance footage appeared to show Ravizza reaching through the McDonald's drive-thru window and stabbing the male victim with a large knife.

The footage then showed Ravizza leave the drive-thru to park his vehicle before going inside the McDonald's and stabbing the second female victim, the county district attorney's office said.

Ravizza then fled the scene and state troopers located his vehicle in Sandwich, state police said. Troopers attempted to pull the vehicle over but it failed to stop and the suspect then crashed.

"Preliminary investigation suggests a likely connection to an earlier incident at a movie theatre in Braintree resulting in non-life threatening injuries to four juveniles," state police said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Massachusetts man arrested after stabbing attack in AMC theater, McDonald's injured 6 people