As Twitchy reported, chaos erupted at a shopping mall in Taunton, Mass., Tuesday evening when a man crashed his car through the entrance to a Macy’s and began stabbing people apparently at random before being shot and killed by an off-duty deputy sheriff.
Two bystanders, one of whom was killed, and off-duty deputy hailed as heroes in Mass. stabbing rampage: https://t.co/FWxcuPw8dA
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 11, 2016
More details of Arthur Darosa’s stabbing rampage were released Wednesday. According to the Associated Press, authorities say that Darosa, 28, suddenly drove off from his young daughter’s soccer practice Tuesday and tried to break into several homes, eventually invading a house and stabbing and killing an elderly mother and wounding her daughter, neither of whom he knew.
It was then that Darosa drove to the mall and continued his attacks until he was stopped by a single gunshot fired by Plymouth County Deputy Sheriff James Creed, who was off duty and dining at the restaurant where a pregnant waitress was stabbed and visual design teacher George Heath was killed.
"Thank God he acted the way he did," @BristolDA says about @PlymouthSheriff Deputy James Creed. pic.twitter.com/ZyRbCDXaes
— Bristol County Sheriff's Office (@BristolSheriff) May 11, 2016
Officer's 'heroic actions' brought stabbing rampage to an end https://t.co/QOekggB7Ao pic.twitter.com/60UnxsM8zD
— WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) May 11, 2016
Heath died protecting pregnant @Bertuccis waitress Sheena Savoy. Her boyfriend's mother calls Heath a hero @NBC10 pic.twitter.com/q39MmtUBUi
— Cierra Putman News (@NBC10_Cierra) May 11, 2016
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Heath’s widow told WCVB her husband jumped into action after seeing Darosa attack a waitress inside the mall:
Rosemary Heath said she pushed the woman out of the way and grabbed the back of DaRosa’s shirt.
“My husband was struggling with him to get the knife away,” she said. “I think he went down low on him to get him around the elbows so he couldn’t raise his arm up, and then he pulled his arm back and then stabbed my husband in the head.”
George Heath, 56, later died.
mr. heath was the nicest most helpful man i ever met. he always brought laughter out of everyone, please keep him in your prayers ❤️
— ash (@joosheony) May 11, 2016
Heaven gained a new angel today.. Love you Mr. Heath❤️ pic.twitter.com/fIYisaG6gN
— kiana ? happy woo day ? (@katntae) May 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/haaiilllss/status/730563867701575681
Darosa’s family also spoke to the press, placing the blame for the incident on Morton Hospital, where Darosa had checked himself in Monday after his sister noticed him behaving erratically. The hospital shouldn’t have released him, they say.
Taunton killing spree raises questions about Mass. mental health system https://t.co/G7zxVSUcKH pic.twitter.com/xZLkz3S0na
— WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) May 12, 2016
Darosa's family says they are deeply sorry for what happened. Their prayers go out to the victims & their families. #Wcvb
— Kathy Curran (@KathyReports) May 11, 2016
Family blames hospital for not giving him the treatment he needed. They say Darosa admitted he needed help. #Wcvb
— Kathy Curran (@KathyReports) May 11, 2016
For what it’s worth:
NEW: Plymouth Co. Sheriff's office says off-duty deputy James Creed used his personal weapon to stop Taunton suspect @wpri12
— Susan Campbell (@SusanCampbellTV) May 11, 2016
MORE: Creed is on administrative leave, as is protocol in officer-involved shootings. #Taunton @wpri12
— Susan Campbell (@SusanCampbellTV) May 11, 2016
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