New London Man Arrested In Theater Stabbing, Carjacking

A New London man was taken into custody Wednesday, arrested in connection with a

Chantau Chau, 20, was arrested in New London on charges of armed carjacking, assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and motor vehicle larceny.

According to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone, Chau will be arraigned today on a fugitive from justice charge. 

The stabbing occurred Sept. 6, the same day that

“I applaud the dedicated law enforcement officers who were committed to finding the assailant in this unprovoked, seriously violent attack that took place outside a movie theater and left the victim in critical condition,” said Leone. 

According to authorities, a Wakefield man was sitting in his car outside the movie theater waiting for a friend on the night of Sept. 6. The defendant allegedly approached the car. The victim told police he thought Chau wanted a cigarette and he reached down to give him one. Chau then stabbed the man, allege authorities.

"The victim then exited the car through the passenger door and fled across the parking lot," said Leone in a statement. "The defendant allegedly followed and stabbed the victim multiple times, including in the neck. Chau then fled the scene in the victim’s car."

The due to his injuries, said Leone.

Police put a which was found in New London.

According to the DA's office, a Woburn Police officer noticed an abandoned car parked at the Holiday Inn, which is located adjacent to the movie theater, last month. 

"Police discovered that the car was registered to an owner in New London, close to where the stolen vehicle had been recovered," said Leone in a statement.  "They also were able to locate the defendant’s name on a discarded receipt found within the vehicle."

Police spoke to the owner of the vehicle, who said she traveled to Woburn with a relative (Chau) and left the car in the hotel parking lot because it was broken down. 

Using the car owner's statement, materials from the car found at the Holiday Inn and fingerprint evidence from the stolen vehicle, police linked Chau to the stabbing.

“This was a successful joint effort among multiple law enforcement agencies to work together and proactively to find the culprit for these horrible crimes,” said Woburn Police Chief Robert Ferullo.

Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to the District Attorney's Office, Woburn Police and the all worked on the case. 

“This was the result of truly remarkable police work, using a discarded receipt in an abandoned vehicle to match the defendant to the crime, and I want to commend the State Police assigned to the Middlesex DA’s Office, the Woburn Police, and the New London Police for their great collaborative work on this case," said Leone.