Imagine walking out of your own business only to be ambushed with a blade—former Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan lived that nightmare on Monday evening.
Fox News reported that Flanagan, a 45-year-old Democrat who was once the mayor of Fall River, was viciously stabbed multiple times outside his cannabis shop, Cosmopolitan Dispensary, around 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Security footage from across the street paints a grim picture: a man sprints toward Flanagan, unleashes a flurry of stabs, and bolts as the ex-mayor collapses behind a car.
Remarkably, the video shows Flanagan staggering to his feet moments later, desperately seeking help despite his grave injuries. He was rushed to a hospital, where he remains in serious but stable condition, reliant on a ventilator and facing another surgery.
For a man who’s already endured political battles, including a 2014 recall over allegations of brandishing a firearm at a rival, this physical assault adds a brutal chapter to his story.
Police swiftly apprehended 31-year-old Corree Gonzales in connection with the attack, though charges directly tied to the stabbing are still pending.
Gonzales, now held without bail at Bridgewater State Hospital, faces four counts of assault and battery on a police officer, while a doctor’s testimony points to a severe mental illness.
Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan weighed in, saying, “I’m not so much concerned about his criminal past, I’m concerned about his mental health and his ability to reintegrate into society.”
Well, Mr. Mayor, that’s noble, but let’s not forget the victim gasping for air on a ventilator—justice must prioritize the stabbed over the stabber’s future prospects.
Fall River Police Chief Kelly Furtado struck a firmer tone, declaring, “We will exhaust every resource to ensure justice is served.” That’s the kind of resolve taxpayers expect, Chief, not just hand-wringing over societal reintegration while a man fights for his life.
Flanagan’s journey from mayor to attorney to local film performer—he even recorded himself singing “Blame it on the Rain” during a storm hours before the attack—shows a man of many talents, now tragically sidelined by violence.
His tenure as mayor from 2010 to 2014 wasn’t without controversy, but no one deserves this kind of barbaric ambush outside their own business.
In a blue state like Massachusetts, where progressive policies often dominate, incidents like this raise tough questions about public safety and mental health oversight—questions that deserve straight answers, not platitudes.
As Flanagan prepares for another surgery, the community waits for clarity on Gonzales’ motives and whether this tragedy could have been prevented with better systems in place.
One thing is certain: while some may push for endless empathy toward the accused, the focus must remain on a former public servant now battling to recover from a ruthless attack.