Melrose Police Hunt For Suspect In Attempted Murder

MELROSE (CBS) -- There's an all-points bulletin out for a Melrose man who police say used a rubber mallet to attack his mother in her 70s and his sister in her 50s.

"We have the whole area of northern Massachusetts looking out for him now," says Melrose Police Chief Michael Lyle.

Police say that John Ferreira, 54 of Melrose, should be considered armed and dangerous after breaking into his relatives' 99 Vinton Street house.

Authorities got a 9-1-1 call Friday night and found one of the victims bleeding as she walked down the down the sidewalk. When officers arrived, Lyle says they found another woman inside.

"When officers got in there, she was in a chair with some type of wire ties around her ankles, tied to the chair," Lyle said.

Lyle says that Ferreira was inside the house waiting for the first victim.

"He was actually waiting for one of the victims to come home. He pounded her. That's when he tied her up with wire ties and duct tape," Lyle said. "The other party saw what was going on and tried to intervene. She was hit with hammer as well."

The Police Chief says the wounds were severe.

"It's severe enough for them to be in the hospital now. They're still in the hospital. They're in a Boston area hospital right now," Lyle said. He added that the women have welts and bruises to their arms and legs and "severe facial injuries."

Lyle wants to tell Ferreria, "Turn yourself in. We'll come by and get you."

Most of the neighbors didn't want to talk, but Devin Harrigan said he saw the "commotion."

"It was ridiculous, crazy. Stuff like that doesn't usually happen around here," Harrigan said. "That's crazy. I hope they find him."

Ferreira is described as being a white male, about 5' 7" tall and weighs about 200 pounds. Police also say he has facial hair, a graying mustache, and has a partially shaved head.

Reports say he is driving a red Toyota Corolla, Massachusetts plate 546XL1, that he allegedly stole from one of the victims. He is also said to have stolen an ATM card and a cell phone.

Melrose police ask that if anyone has information on Ferreira to call them at 781-665-1212 or to dila 9-1-1.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports