The Shark's Killing Spree

Traces the great white shark's attacks on swimmers off Amity, from the first victim to the final confrontation.

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First Attack on Christine Watkins

The First Victim The Night Swim Christine Watkins, a young woman visiting Amity, goes for a midnight swim after a party. The water is cold, and she is alone. The great white shark, drawn by her movements and perhaps by menstrual blood, attacks her. The attack is brutal: the shark severs her leg, then crushes her torso. Her body is found the next morning, mutilated. Discovery and Identification Police Chief Martin Brody and Officer Len Hendricks discover the remains on the beach. The coroner, Carl Santos, confirms it was a shark attack. Brody is horrified and wants to close the beaches, but he faces pressure from the town's selectmen. The Cover-Up Begins Brody is persuaded by Mayor Larry Vaughan and editor Harry Meadows to suppress the news to protect the summer tourist economy. The attack is not reported in the local paper. This decision sets the stage for further tragedies.

Second Attack on Alexander Kintner

The Boy on the Raft A Child's Innocence Six-year-old Alexander Kintner, bored on the beach, asks his mother if he can go out on his rubber raft. She reluctantly agrees. The boy paddles out, unaware that the shark is nearby. The shark attacks, taking the boy and his raft in one massive bite. The boy's legs are severed; he dies instantly. Witness and Panic A nearby father sees the splash and realizes something is wrong. He alerts the boy's mother. The beach erupts in panic. Brody is called and realizes the shark is still there. He orders the beaches closed, but it is too late. Public Outcry The boy's mother, Mrs. Kintner, confronts Brody, accusing him of covering up the first attack. She slaps him and screams that he killed her son. Brody is wracked with guilt.

Third Attack on Morris Cater

The Old Man in the Surf A Second Victim Within an hour of the boy's death, a sixty-five-year-old man named Morris Cater is attacked while swimming in the gentle surf. The shark strikes repeatedly, savaging him. Officer Len Hendricks, who happens to be on the beach, tries to rescue him but only manages to pull a severed arm from the water. Media Frenzy Reporters from the New York Times and other outlets arrive. The story becomes national news. Brody is forced to close the beaches officially. The town's economy begins to collapse as tourists cancel reservations. The Shark's Pattern The attacks confirm that a single large shark is responsible. Hooper, an ichthyologist, is called in. He identifies the shark as a great white, possibly twenty feet long. The hunt begins.

Fourth Victim: Ben Gardner

The Fisherman Lost The Charter Boat Flicka Brody charters local fisherman Ben Gardner to hunt the shark. Gardner goes out alone, chumming the water. The shark attacks his boat, pulling him overboard. Gardner's boat is found drifting, with a shark tooth embedded in the transom. His body is never recovered. Discovery of the Tooth Brody and Hendricks find the tooth, confirming the shark's immense size. Hooper examines it and estimates the shark at fifteen to twenty feet. The town is terrified. Widow's Grief Sally Gardner, Ben's wife, blames Brody for sending her husband to his death. Brody feels the weight of another death on his conscience.

Final Confrontation Aboard the Orca

The Hunt Quint's Vessel Brody hires Quint, a hardened shark hunter, to kill the shark. Quint demands four hundred dollars a day, cash in advance. Hooper joins as a mate, bringing a shark cage and a bang stick. The three men set out on Quint's boat, the Orca. The Shark's Cunning The shark proves elusive and intelligent. It avoids the baited hooks, attacks the boat, and kills Hooper when he enters the cage. Quint harpoons the shark multiple times, but the shark fights back, eventually sinking the boat. Quint's Death and Brody's Survival As the Orca sinks, Quint becomes entangled in a harpoon line and is dragged under. Brody, clinging to a cushion, watches the shark spiral down into the depths, trailing Quint's body. Brody swims to shore, the sole survivor.

Mid-June, night

A few days later, Sunday afternoon

Same afternoon, shortly after the boy's attack

A few days later, Thursday

The following week, Monday through Wednesday