Former Fall River Mayor Survives Serious Stabbing Attack

William Flanagan, former mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts, has spoken publicly for the first time following a brutal stabbing attack near the marijuana dispensary he owns. He described the harrowing incident as coming face to face with death, with multiple stab wounds to his face, neck, and body inflicted by 31-year-old Coree Gonzales, who has been charged with armed assault to murder and other felonies and is undergoing a mental health evaluation. Flanagan expressed profound gratitude to the police, EMTs, firefighters, and medical staff whose swift and skilled actions saved his life, crediting their bravery and care for his survival. Throughout his recovery, he has been moved by the overwhelming community support and prayers, which he says have held him together during his healing. Reflecting on the experience, Flanagan vowed never to take another day for granted and to live more deeply and forgivingly. The case remains ongoing as Gonzales’s mental competence is being assessed before trial proceedings continue.