A routine grocery shopping trip took a frightening turn in Punta Gorda, Florida, after a 70-year-old man was allegedly attacked with a box cutter by a stranger who reportedly said he disliked the 1960s era.
Ramsey Thomas Lyons, 47, is facing a charge of aggravated battery on a person aged 65 or older following the incident at a Publix supermarket on Tamiami Trail. Investigators say the victim was shopping in an aisle when the unexpected attack occurred.
According to the arrest affidavit, the shopper suddenly felt a sharp impact on the left side of his face. At first, the sensation felt like someone had punched him. When he turned around, he allegedly saw Lyons standing nearby with a box cutter in his hand.
The victim then noticed blood on his hands and realized he had been injured. He immediately sought help from others inside the store.
Police Found Suspect Near Store Entrance
Punta Gorda police officers responded to the Publix at 2310 Tamiami Trail shortly before 4 p.m. on October 10 after receiving a report of a stabbing.
When officers arrived, they reportedly found Lyons standing near the store’s entrance with his hands on his head. Police took him into custody and recovered a box cutter from the area where the alleged attack occurred.
Investigators also reviewed surveillance footage from inside the supermarket. The video reportedly showed Lyons entering the store, walking through its aisles and leaving the aisle shortly after the injured shopper moved toward the customer service area.
The footage formed part of the investigation into what authorities described as an apparently unprovoked attack.
Suspect Allegedly Told Police Why He Chose the Victim
During questioning after being advised of his Miranda rights, Lyons allegedly told investigators that he had an undiagnosed mental illness and disliked the 1960s era.
According to the affidavit, Lyons said he had entered the supermarket intending to kill someone. He allegedly explained that he selected the 70-year-old shopper because the man looked as though he belonged to that period.
Lyons reportedly told officers that he had been thinking about attacking someone for two days before the incident. He also allegedly said he dropped the box cutter after the attack because he did not want responding officers to become frightened and shoot him or use a Taser.
Investigators said Lyons did not know the victim before the encounter and appeared to have selected him at random.
The statements described in the affidavit are allegations documented during the investigation. They do not establish a medical diagnosis or determine the defendant’s guilt.
Victim Required Stitches for Facial and Neck Injuries
The attack left the elderly shopper with a significant wound extending from his left cheek near his mouth, along his jawline and down toward his neck.
The victim was taken for medical treatment at a hospital in Port Charlotte, where he received stitches for his injuries. The arrest account also described cuts to his neck and upper chest.
The incident has raised concerns about the unpredictability of violence in public places, where people can become victims of an attack without any prior connection to the alleged assailant.
Lyons Remains in Custody as Case Moves Forward
Lyons was arrested and booked into the Charlotte County Jail in connection with the case. He faces a charge of aggravated battery on a person aged 65 or older.
The charge concerns an alleged attack on an older adult, a factor specifically covered by Florida’s criminal statutes addressing aggravated battery.
Lyons was being held without bond, according to the reported arrest information. His next court date was listed as November 16.
The case remains a criminal proceeding, and Lyons is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
