3 Dead, Attacker Identified in Massachusetts Mall Stabbings

Taunton, MA - Local authorities identified the now-deceased man who went on a Tuesday-night stabbing spree as local resident Arthur DaRosa, 28.

DaRosa killed two people, ages 80 and 56, in a violent series of events that began inside a Myricks Street home and culminated with him crashing his car into the Silver City Galleria mall, where he stabbed and assaulted several people before being shot to death by an off-duty sheriff's deputy on scene.

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Bristol County District Attorney Tom Quinn held a late-night press conference at the Taunton Police Department Tuesday, laying out those and other limited details with reporters.

Quinn said DaRosa crashed his car on Myricks Street before entering a home there and stabbing two women.

Multiple news outlets identified the fatally wounded victim there as an 80-year-old mother whose daughter was also stabbed but survived. The District Attorney did not disclose names, but confirmed an 80-year-old was stabbed to death in the Myricks Street home and another woman was wounded there.

According to Quinn, DaRosa then returned to his vehicle and drove to the mall, where he smashed into the Silver City Galleria Macy's. Inside the store, Quinn said, DaRosa assaulted three people before walking into the mall's Bertucci's Pizza restaurant.

There, Quinn said, DaRosa armed himself with a knife and stabbed two more people, killing a 56-year-old Taunton man.

An off-duty sheriff's officer then fired a single shot at DaRosa, Quinn said. DaRosa was transported to Morton Hospital, where he succumbed to the bullet, he said.

"It appears that but for the actions of the deputy sheriff, there would have been other victims," Quinn told reporters.

An investigation is under way at each of the crime scenes, and the DA's office is not sharing additional details at this time.

All of the victims were hospitalized Tuesday, and the mall was evacuated, officials said. State police say there is no known motive for the crimes at this time, but said the actions are not considered terrorism-related.

"Our heartfelt prayers go out to all the victims. Hopefully we can make some sense of this," Taunton Mayor Tom Hoye said at the press conference.

>> Top photo courtesy WHDH, 7-News, used with permission

>> Reporting by Patch staff Joe Lipovich, Alex Newman, Alison Bauter

>> Patch has revised the number of victims at the restaurant from what was originally reported, reflecting updated remarks from the district attorney.