Amity’s Beaches Closed on the 4th Following Alleged Shark Attacks

Amity Police Chief Martin Brody announced that Amity’s beaches would be closed for 24 hours effective immediate, heightening suspicion that recent deaths at area beaches were due to shark attacks.
The announcement came at a meeting yesterday evening, attended by Brody, town officials, and concerned townspeople. Brody also announced that extra summer deputies would be assigned to the beach.
“Yes, we are,” Brody said somberly when asked if the beaches would be closed.
The decision prompted heated debate at the meeting, given the economic toll that the decision will likely have. The July 4 weekend is traditionally one of the most popular weeks of the year for beachgoers.
“24 hours is like three weeks,” one resident was heard to say in the uproar that followed the annoucement.
The decision came just hours after the second suspicious death on area beaches, which officials are investigating as possibly due to shark attacks. 10-year-old Alex Kitner of Amity was floating on a rubber raft in the water off Village Beach when witnesses at the beach reported seeing him pulled under the water several times in rapid succession, his airs flailing. He appeared to be trying to fight his attacker, but was ultimately pulled under. The water immediately surrounding where Kitner disappeared took on the color of blood. His body has not been recovered, but the raft floated ashore with what appeared to be a bite taken out of it.
Police are also investigating as to whether the July 1 death of 16-year-old Wendy Watson is also shark related. The mangled body of Watson was found washed up on an Amity beach. She had been last seen alive yesterday at about 11 p.m. the night before as she was leaving a beach party with a male friend, apparently to go skinny-dipping.
Kitner’s mother, Audrey Kitner, has posted signs advertising a $3000 reward for the shark believed responsible for the attacks. Local Fisherman Ben Quint had an offer of his own at the meeting as well.
“I’ll catch and kill him for ten [thousand dollars],” said Quint. “I’ll catch this bird for you. It’s not going to be easy. It’s a bad fish.”
Quint’s offer is a tempting one, given the area’s reliance on summertime visitors, a fact that he acknowledged in his proposition.
“We have to do it quick,” said Quint. “We have to get all the tourists back.”