A former mayor of Massachusetts, previously accused of brandishing a firearm against a rival, was stabbed in the neck outside his cannabis dispensary, according to police reports.
Will Flanagan, who held the office of Democratic mayor in Fall River from January 2010 until December 2014, was stabbed twice around 5 p.m. on Monday. He is currently in serious but stable condition, as noted by local news.
The 45-year-old father of two, who recently appeared in a horror film, was assaulted just after tweeting about his visit to the pharmacy where the incident occurred.
Police did not provide details regarding the motive for the attack, but expressed their commitment to swiftly identify and apprehend those responsible for this violent act.
“Our patrol officers and detectives responded quickly and are working diligently to identify and arrest those responsible for this senseless act of violence,” stated Police Chief Kelly Furtado.
Flanagan made history in November 2009 as Fall River’s youngest mayor at the age of just 29. However, he faced a recall election in 2014 after allegedly intimidating a political opponent, who later became mayor himself.
He denied these accusations, and a subsequent civil lawsuit against the rival was settled confidentially in 2015.
Flanagan’s record as the youngest mayor was later broken by Jasiel Correia, who took office at just 23 in 2016.
Recently returned to his law practice, Flanagan also engages in film projects, including local movies. He actively promoted his cannabis dispensary, opened in July 2022, through social media.
On the day of the incident, Flanagan shared a video of himself singing a song, inviting customers to seek shelter at the pharmacy amid inclement weather.
Current Mayor Paul Coogan expressed his support, offering “thoughts and prayers” to Flanagan and his family, and assured the public that the police department is fully dedicated to ensuring justice in this case.
As of now, neither Flanagan’s office nor the dispensary has commented on the situation.
