WAREHAM, MA — A tranquil Saturday morning shattered into pure chaos when a New Bedford man reportedly launched a terrifying, multi-scene rampage—wielding an axe at helpless bystanders, hunting down panicked beachgoers, and brutally beating his girlfriend inside a parked car, according to reporting by Wareham Week.
Shawn Michael Ferguson, 46, appeared in Wareham District Court on Monday to face a judge following the harrowing series of events along Interstate 195 and Swifts Beach that left local residents trembling.
A Morning of Terror
The nightmare began around 8:32 a.m. at the Wareham Rest Area boat ramp, where terrified witnesses reported a man “acting erratically” and aggressively chasing bystanders while brandishing a deadly axe, Wareham Week reported. Though officers rushed to the area, Ferguson managed to slip away—only to unleash fresh horrors just thirty minutes later.
At nearby Swifts Beach Road, horror struck again. Good Samaritan Kathleen Fredericksen was alerted by a blaring car alarm, only to witness a horrific scene inside a vehicle: Ferguson was mercilessly raining blows down on his 37-year-old girlfriend, Amanda Veara.
When Fredericksen bravely shouted at the attacker to stop, Ferguson abandoned the vehicle and turned his sights on the shoreline.
Chased Into the Ocean
Desperate for a new target, Ferguson charged at Laura Scirocco, who was simply enjoying the beach. Screaming profanities and incoherent threats, the wild-eyed attacker closed in on Scirocco, forcing the terrified woman to plunge directly into the ocean waters to escape his clutches.
Responding Wareham police officers cornered Ferguson shortly after. He violently resisted, screaming hysterically as officers wrestled him into custody.
A Trail of Blood and Bruises
Inside the couple’s vehicle, officers discovered Veara suffering from severe, bloody injuries. Live-in partners who were currently homeless, Veara had frantically tried to shield herself as Ferguson battered her face, hands, and palms with his bare fists, per Wareham Week.
At Tobey Hospital, medical staff uncovered the true severity of the assault:
- Deep cuts and severe bruising across her face, cheeks, and forehead.
- A split, heavily swollen lip.
- Choke-mark bruises lining her neckline, indicating a terrifying attempt at strangulation.
Held Without Bail
Ferguson now faces a slate of criminal charges, including assault and battery on a family/household member, assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.
In court, defense attorney Stephen Dodd revealed Ferguson is a diagnosed schizophrenic, begging the judge for a mental health evaluation and treatment in lieu of prison time.
For now, the accused axe-wielder remains locked behind bars. He is being held without bail as the community awaits his next court appearance on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
