A 25-year-old man accused of stabbing a man this past October on the Historic Side of The Villages, is being held without bond after allegedly punching and critically injuring a 74-year-old man.
Zachary Gonnelli, 25, has been jailed in Marion County after paramedics responded Wednesday to the scene of the disturbance in Ocklawaha which left the victim not breathing.
Gonnelli also pulled a knife on an eyewitness at the scene, according to a report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Gonnelli has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill and aggravated battery on a person 65 years of age or older.
The victim was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center.
Gonnelli, who had been living with his grandmother on Aloha Way on the Historic Side of The Villages at the time of the October attack, had been out on bond on a charge of attempted first degree murder.
Gonnelli was charged with attempted murder following an October incident in which he allegedly stabbed another man with a five-inch kitchen knife.
The 33-year-old victim suffered a collapsed lung, lacerated kidney and his spleen had to be removed as a result of the attack, according to court records from Lake County. Witnesses at the time told law enforcement that the two men had argued when the victim drove his golf cart to Gonnelli’s home and said something. Then Gonnelli left his residence and followed the golf cart on foot. Witnesses reported hearing a scream. The victim was taken by his mother to The Villages Regional Hospital and then transferred to Ocala Regional Medical Center.
Gonnelli had posted bond Dec. 11 at the Lake County Jail and as part of his release, Judge William G. Law had ordered Gonnelli to have no contact with his victim.
While out on bond, Gonnelli allegedly stole a carton of cigarettes from the Circle K at Southern Trace shopping center in The Villages.
He is due back in Lake County Court on April 13.
