SALEM – In Essex County Superior Court today, Brian Scrooc, 38, of Haverhill, pleaded guilty to multiple charges tied to a stabbing incident in Mark’s Deli, a Haverhill deli and diner, on April 26, 2025, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker confirms. Prosecuting the case on behalf of the Commonwealth, Assistant District Attorney Michael Sheehan told the court that Scrooc entered the restaurant brandishing a knife that day and immediately began stabbing a man over the age of 60 who was having breakfast with his friend.
When the man’s friend tried to distract and disrupt Scrooc’s attack, Sheehan said, Scrooc stabbed the second man as well. Prior to the incident, Sheehan said, the defendant had told his mother that he was “going to stab someone today.” Scrooc’s mother called and reported the comment to the Haverhill Police Department, who arrived on the scene and apprehended the defendant outside of the restaurant. The first victim was transported to the hospital. Now in stable condition, he attended today’s hearing.
At the hearing, Scrooc pled guilty to armed assault with intent to murder on a person over age 60 and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person over age 60. During questioning by the Hon. Kathleen McCarthy-Neyman, Scrooc said that he admitted to the stabbings and discussed a history of mental health issues. In response to those statements, Judge McCarthy-Neyman ordered the defendant to undergo a mental health evaluation, which concluded that Scrooc was competent to enter in the guilty pleas.
Judge McCarthy-Neyman then sentenced Scrooc to not less than seven and one-half years in state prison and not more than ten years in state prison on the first charge, to be followed by three years of probation for the other two charges. During probation, the defendant may not have contact with the victims, must undergo mental health and substance abuse evaluations, and must complete an anger management program. Rocky Yaniv served as victim/witness advocate on the case. The defendant was represented by attorney Kenneth Allison
