Shark Attack Seems More Likely as Young Boy Dies in Water

This afternoon, a young boy was killed in the waters of Village Beach in what appears to have been a vicious and unprovoked shark attack.

Alex Kitner, 10 years old, was playing in the water with his friends when the attack occurred. Kitner’s tattered yellow raft was the only remnants of the encounter.

Despite rumors earlier this morning that a shark was the cause of Wendy Watson’s death, the beaches were still crowded at the time of Kitner's death.

A group of children were splashing around in the water, screaming excitedly and floating around on rafts, Kitner included. It was only when Kitner disappeared beneath the water that the screams turned to those of panic. Kitner's yellow raft deflated immediately, and the water was stained red with blood.

Terror spread throughout the beach as parents rushed into the water, carrying their children to safety and looking out at the scene of the attack with utmost horror. Police Chief Martin Brody could be heard yelling at people to get out of the water.

Once the water was cleared, Marion Kitner, Alex’s mother, was heard desperately calling out to her son. Her answer was Alex’s raft washing up against the shore, with what appeared to be a large bite out of it. She is now being treated for shock at Amity General Hospital.

“I join Amity Mayor Bob Farley in expressing the town’s deepest and most sincere condolences to the Kitner family,” said Police Chief Brody.

Arrangements are being made tonight at a Selectman meeting. According to the agenda, Chief Brody plans to ask the selectmen permission to close the beaches on July 4.

When asked if he thought Kitner’s death could be avoidable, Brody responded that Watson’s death was not enough cause to close the beaches, and that he was not going to blame anyone for keeping the beaches open.

Although evidence is strong that the cause of both Watson and Kitner’s death was a shark attack, police are still hesitant to officially confirm that.

“We have no evidence except for what you saw,” said Brody. “There is no evidence that it was or wasn’t a shark attack.”

Police do believe that Watson’s and Kitner’s deaths are somehow linked.
“We never have two deaths in one day except for in the nursing home,” Brody said.

The Kitner family has allegedly offered a reward of $3,000 for the capture of the perpetrators.