Stabbing suspect in Massachusetts set to face criminal accusations linked to Connecticut murder, authorities confirm.
Jared Ravizza was brought to Plymouth District Court on Tuesday, facing four charges linked to a violent attack at a McDonald's that took place on Saturday evening. The charges include armed assault with the intent to murder, two counts of assault and battery using a dangerous weapon, and indecent exposure. Authorities believe Ravizza, aged 26, is also implicated in a separate incident at a Braintree movie theater, as well as carrying pending charges in Connecticut for a homicide.
During a hearing, prosecutors filed a motion asking that Ravizza be kept in custody without bail, as they revealed he was potentially involved in another stabbing that happened on Saturday at the movie theater. Additionally, they informed the court of his potential connection to a homicide in Connecticut.
By the afternoon, Ravizza had already made his second court appearance, where a medical professional reported that he didn't demonstrate the ability to cooperate with defense lawyers. This led to court proceedings ordering him to be sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for further evaluation.
Sean O'Neill, a lawyer representing Ravizza, made no comment on the situation.
Both victims of the McDonald's incident experienced non-life-threatening injuries, as per previous reports.
In addition, Connecticut State Police disclosed on Tuesday that Ravizza would be facing charges related to a homicide incident identified in Deep River, which was also discovered on Saturday. Police confirmed responding to a reported disturbance around 3:30 p.m. and discovering Bruce Feldman, 70, dead outside a house on Maritone Lane, detailing in a news release that Ravizza had been present at the address earlier in the day.
Investigations are still ongoing in Deep River.
Unprovoked Theater Stabbing Preceded McDonald's Attack
The attacks at the movie theater and McDonald's were not isolated incidents - they occurred around 6 p.m. on Saturday in Braintree, 10 miles south of Boston. The police reported, "Without saying anything and without any warning, (the assailant) suddenly attacked and stabbed the four young females. The attack appeared to be unprovoked." The victims were transported to Boston hospitals.
The suspect fled in what appeared to be a black SUV, and authorities were able to get its license plate number from footage of the incident. Just an hour later, a vehicle that fit this description was reportedly involved in a similar assault at a Plymouth McDonald's.
Suspect was Arrested for Assault and Vandalism Last Month
More details about Ravizza's background are surfacing, such as his arrest in Martha's Vineyard in March for assault and battery on a family member and vandalism. Court records at Edgartown District Court show the case is yet to be decided. Ravizza's father claimed he had a "mental break" and violently attacked his dad inside his own home, but the hospital deemed him unsuitable for detention.
Ravizza presents himself as a self-professed philanthropist, professional skier, business owner, and artist. His social media profiles and newspaper articles talk about his philanthropy work, activism, and past career as a professional skier. Ravizza's business website mentions he's the owner of a digital marketing and social media management agency called "Ravizza Jones," which is based in Massachusetts. The website touts the agency as a "leading global digital marketing & social media management agency representing leading companies, brands, and individuals in digital media and online marketing."
A 2021 article in the Martha's Vineyard Times calls Ravizza a professional skier who created a global initiative for people with autism, disabilities, or illnesses, and described him as providing mentorship and exercise among other things. Ravizza told the newspaper, "We spend a lot of time on the Vineyard, in Massachusetts, and I just want people to know the accessibility to me."
"I hope that this story will spur someone to start their own initiative, maybe you're someone living on the island who wants to help others," expressed Ravizza.
An interesting find is that the accused individual's Instagram account features pictures of Ravizza cruising in high-end vehicles, the same type of Porsche he is said to have driven from the AMC cinema to the McDonald's.
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Besides, Nic F. Anderson and Holly Yan from CNN have collaborated on this report.
This story has been updated with further details.
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In relation to the ongoing investigations, it was revealed that the suspect, Jared Ravizza, has ties to the community in Connecticut as well. The Connecticut authorities are preparing to bring additional charges against him, alleging his involvement in a homicide incident that occurred in Deep River.
Given the series of incidents in Massachusetts and Connecticut, authorities are now considering Ravizza as a potential interstate violent offender.
Source: edition.cnn.com
