BOSTON — Gianpaolo M. Cerretani, the man charged with wielding a hammer in a racially-motivated attack at Revere Beach Sunday, is being held without bail.
Cerretani, 24, who offered addresses in Revere and Lynn, was arraigned in Chelsea District Court Monday. A dangerousness hearing is set for Thursday, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.
Cerretani is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, threats to commit a crime, civil rights violation, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. A plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.
State Police responded to a fight at the Bandstand at about 4:20 p.m. After their arrival, police observed Cerretani, who was shirtless and bleeding from the head, shouting profanities and racial slurs at a group of black and Hispanic men ranging from 16 to 20. A 12-inch long hammer was located in the sand where he stood, according to the DA’s office.
Investigators learned that Cerretani had taken a football from a group of children, which was retrieved by a witness and returned to the kids. He then allegedly began to swing a hammer at the group of men, striking an 18-year-old Hispanic man from Lowell.
Cerretani allegedly shouted threats and racial slurs during the attacks. Witnesses subdued Cerretani and disarmed him before police arrived, according to the DA’s office.
He resisted attempts by troopers to escort him to a cruiser. Police also detected an odor of alcohol coming from him and observed that his eyes were red and bloodshot. He was taken to Whidden Hospital in Everett for treatment and allegedly made threats to troopers while being taken to the State Police barracks in Revere, prosecutors said.
