This story was reported by Travis Andersen and Jan Ransom of the Globe staff and Globe correspondents Olivia Arnold, Lauren Fox, and George Rizer.
TAUNTON — Two people were stabbed to death, including an 80-year-old woman, and their assailant was killed by an off-duty sheriff’s deputy in a spree of violence that began at a home in Taunton and spilled over into the Silver City Galleria mall Tuesday evening, State Police said.
In all, four people were stabbed in the attacks, and two of the victims died, according to State Police. The suspect, Arthur J. DaRosa, 28, of Taunton, was shot and killed at the mall by an off-duty Plymouth County sheriff’s deputy, authorities said.
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“He is a hero,” said David Procopio, a spokesman for State Police.
The mall was placed in lockdown shortly after the chaotic series of events. At one point, the suspect ran into a mall restaurant armed with a knife. Authorities said they do not believe DaRosa knew any of the victims.
The bloodshed began about 4 miles away from the mall, when DaRosa crashed his car into a truck on Myricks Street at about 7 p.m., Bristol District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III said at a press conference.
DaRosa exited the vehicle and entered a home on Myricks Street and stabbed two women, who were taken to Morton Hospital, the district attorney said. One of those victims was the 80-year-old woman who died, he said, and her adult daughter was being treated for life-threatening injuries. They were not identified.
DaRosa then traveled a short distance to the galleria and smashed his car into the entrance of a Macy’s store, where he got out and assaulted patrons, Quinn said.
From there he ran into a Bertucci’s restaurant in the mall, armed himself, and stabbed two more people — a man and a woman. Both were taken to Morton Hospital and one of them, a 56-year-old Taunton man, died, according to Quinn. Those victims also were not identified.
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It was at Bertucci’s that the sheriff’s deputy shot DaRosa, Quinn said.
“I want to extend my heartfelt prayers and sympathies to the victims of this horrific violence,” he said.
Asked whether DaRosa had any criminal history, Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for Quinn, said only that “he hasn’t been in our court system in years.”
Trooper Paul Sullivan, a State Police spokesman, said after the incidents that “there is no continuing threat to the public. The suspect’s motive remains under investigation but at this point we are aware of no nexus to terrorism.”
Dozens of Taunton and State Police officers remained at the scene into the night at the mall.
Around the corner from Bertucci’s was the vehicle that had slammed into Macy’s. The black compact car was taken from the scene shortly before 11 p.m. on a flatbed truck. It had significant front-end damage.
Elina Kazan, a spokeswoman for Macy’s, said in a statement that “Our first thoughts are with those who were injured in today’s terrible turn of events in Taunton, wishing them a fast recovery. We commend PD’s quick response, and are grateful that more were not hurt. As the investigation continues, we’ll provide any assistance to and cooperate with all of the law enforcement agencies involved.”
The mall entrance was sealed off with police tape, and an officer holding a high-grade rifle directed reporters to an area far from the scene on the opposite side of the parking lot.
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Justin Pizarro, 19, was working at a store in the mall at the time of the stabbings.
He said a security guard walked up to him about 6:50 p.m. and told him to close the gate of his store.
At about 7:10 p.m., Pizarro learned there had been stabbings after receiving a phone call from people at home who were watching the news.
Pizarro said he was not scared but “shaken up” and that “the security guards handled it pretty well.”
Bertucci’s spokesman Carl Bachmann said, “It’s an open crime scene. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the victims.”
Late Thursday night, State Police had blocked off Myricks Street. A large sign with a flashing arrow signaled drivers to turn around in the parking lot of Star Drive-In, a diner at 205 Myricks St.
Mike Boulenger, 28, of New Bedford, the general manager of the diner, was closing up the restaurant just after 10 p.m. He said the street had been closed off “for the whole night.”
“I saw ambulances and fire trucks and cops going by,” he said.
A woman who resides on Myricks Street said, “We saw too much and we lost a neighbor.”
Later in the night, Mayor Tom Hoye said, “Our heartfelt prayers go out to all of the victims, and hopefully we can make sense of this.”
Map: Sites involved in Tuesday’s incident
Social media reports:
Update on Taunton stabbing Suspect and 2 of his victims are deceased. Further updates will be provided by Bristol DA
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) May 11, 2016
Another shot of car that smashed into Macy's at the Galleria Mall in #Taunton #WBZ pic.twitter.com/yRcJYJWX3L
— Scott Sullivan (@SullyBunz) May 11, 2016
Two Stabbed at Galleria Mall in Taunton, Two Others Stabbed at House, Suspect Shot by Off Duty... https://t.co/47QtyRQKZp
— Taunton Police (@TauntonPolice) May 11, 2016
MSP responding to assist Taunton PD with incident at Silver City Galleria, crime scene services and detectives
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) May 10, 2016
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe. Jan Ransom can be reached at jan.ransom@
globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Jan_Ransom.