31-year-old man indicted in Fall River Superior Court for brutal stabbing of former mayor Will Flanagan, also accused of assaulting officers

FALL RIVER – A Fall River man accused of brutally stabbing former mayor Will Flanagan in an unprovoked attack in October has been indicted in Fall River Superior Court.

According to court records, 31-year-old Corree K. Gonzales was indicted on Thursday on Assault & Battery on a Police Officer (4 counts), Armed Assault to Murder, and Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon Causing Serious Bodily Injury for the incident that took place on October 20th at 5:00 p.m. on Hartwell Street outside of the marijuana dispensary Flanagan co-owns. The four counts of Assault & Battery on a Police Officer allegedly took place during Gonzales’ arrest the morning after the attack. 

Gonzales has had multiple mental health evaluations to determine competency to stand trial both in this case and a separate case where he is accused of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. His attorney withdrew in the latter case last month. While court records didn’t reveal why the attorney withdrew, when Fall River Reporter contacted the attorney, he had an away message stating he was on medical leave.

Flanagan suffered life-threatening injuries to both sides of his neck and head during the attack and spent six days on life support at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. 

He has publicly forgiven Gonzales, but is calling for change in the mental health and criminal justice systems including working with State Rep. Alan Silvia on Flanagan’s Law.

Gonzales has a lengthy criminal record which includes multiple charges of assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and has the active case involving his mother in Fall River Superior Court.

He is currently being held without bail.