Jaws news report 4

In a press release from Amity Chief of Police Martin Brody, the shark that has caused the deaths of Christine Watson and Alex Kintner has been caught and killed.

The shark was caught by fishermen Mike Swenson from Medford, Ma.  It was One mile south-southwest of Amity.  Swenson will be receiving the reward of $3,000.

Matt Hooper, a marine biologist from the Oceanographic Institute, Identified the shark as a nurse shark.  Weighing 875 pounds and 11 feet long, nurse sharks, the email stated that nurse sharks are one of the most brutal and violent of all sharks.

Brody stated in the press release that residents of Amity can now rest easy and that all of the beaches will be opened to the public.

“Of course all the beaches throughout our beautiful island will reopen immediately just in time for the flood of visitors just in time for the Fourth of July weekend,” Brody stated in the email. 

Despite the re-opening of the beaches and ensured safety of the residents, the Coast Guard, the Marine Patrol, the Massachusetts State Police, the U.S. Navy, Homeland Security, and the FBI will be monitoring the island.

“Islanders and guest alike should not be alarmed by the presence of shark spotters…They are simply a safety precaution that we hope will put our visitors at ease,” Brody said in the email.

Islanders and visitors of Amity swarmed the beaches, but it took some time for everyone to actually feel comfortable enough to go in the water.  Once everyone finally went in, the day resumed like a normal Fourth of July day.

There was a slight panic when Wayne Winston and Brad Caplan, two 12 year old Amity natives, posed as a shark swimming in the water among the beach goers.  They have been brought back to their parents.  No one was injured during the panic, and the day resumed like normal.