Alex Kintner, 10, of Mayfair Court in
Amity, was killed earlier today before a crowded beach of witnesses
by what appears to have been, according to a press release, a
“viscous and unprovoked shark attack.”
Kintner had been floating on a rubber
raft in the water amongst a crowd of other swimmers at 2:00 p.m. when
the attack occurred. No body has yet been recovered, though the raft
was seen ashore damaged from bite marks. Marion Kitner, the victim’s
mother, is at Amity General Hospital being treated for shock.
This incident comes right on the heels
of one reported earlier this morning. The mangled body of Chrissie
Watson, 17, of 23 Sharktooth St., Amity, was discovered washed ashore
on Monday morning, two days before Martha's Vineyard's annual 4th
of July celebration.
Police reports said that the body was
discovered on the beach, “severely mauled”, by Amity Police
Deputy, Jay Hendricks, after a call reporting the girl missing. No
charges have been filed in the case, and police investigations are
ongoing.
The press release from the Amity
Police Chief Martin Brody states, “...shark attack has not been
completely ruled out”, though beaches shall remain open pending a
full investigation. Watson's attacker is being described by the
police report as being of “unknown origin”. The body has been
transported to Medical Examiner James Wiley's office for further
analysis.
Watson was reported missing at 6:00 AM
this morning by former island resident, Christopher P. Hoggenbottam
III, a sophomore at Trinity College.
Chief Brody addressed a press
conference later in the day on Monday saying, “We send our best
wishes to the family of young Chrissie Watson and we are truly
devastated that something like this has happened. Nothing of this
nature has happened in Amity in years and year. We are doing
everything within our power to investigate this matter.”
Condolences were further offered in the most recent press release to
Kintner family, as well.
When questioned about the possibility
of a shark attack Brody responded, “I doubt it could have been a
shark. Watson's body was discovered high up on the dunes. There is no
way a shark could have gotten the body that high up on the dunes.”
The chief's lack of concern was not
echoed, however, by members of the press, as more questions about a
possible shark attack followed. One reporter inquired about rumors of
possible bite marks on Watson's body, to which Brody replied simply,
“We don't know”.
The current press release issues
less unsure statements, as it now appears certain that Amity is
dealing with a shark that is attacking swimmers. A meeting will be
held by the Mayor's office and the Amity Board of Selectmen at 6 p.m.
today in Town Hall to discuss the closing of the beaches for the
fourth of July. The Kintner family is offering a reward of $3,000.00
for capture of the perpetrator, which is apparently a killer shark.