Florida Man Accused of Publix Slicing Released Early From Mental Health Court, Victim's Mother Warned Officials
Ramsey Thomas Lyons faces aggravated battery charges after allegedly attacking a shopper with a box cutter, an incident that occurred months after his probation was terminated in a prior assault case.
A Florida man accused of slashing a 70-year-old shopper with a box cutter at a Publix supermarket had his probation terminated early by a mental health court just over three months prior to the incident. Ramsey Thomas Lyons, 47, faces a felony charge of aggravated battery on a person 65 years or older following the Oct. 10 attack at the Publix on Tamiami Trail in Punta Gorda.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, Lyons approached the victim from behind and struck him. The victim turned and saw Lyons holding a box cutter, then ran to the front of the store after realizing he was bleeding. Punta Gorda police apprehended Lyons at the store's entrance and recovered a box cutter.
Lyons told authorities that he had a deep dislike for the 1960s era and admitted to planning to kill someone in the store that day. He claimed he targeted the victim because the shopper "looked like he was from the 1960's."
First responders transported the victim to Fawcett Memorial Hospital with a cut from his left cheek to his neck, along with a minor laceration to his upper chest. Lyons, who waived his Miranda rights, allegedly admitted he spent two days planning the attack and dropped the weapon to avoid being tased or shot.
The incident has drawn renewed criticism from the mother of a teenager Lyons previously assaulted. On March 13, 2025, Lyons attacked a 16-year-old at a Wawa gas station in Port Charlotte. Following that arrest, Lyons was placed in a Mental Health Court diversion program. The victim's mother, Shawna Gentry, told Fox News Digital that she had opposed the diversion program, advocating for jail time, alcohol classes, and probation, and warned judicial officials that Lyons posed a volatile threat.
Charlotte County court minutes show that Lyons' probation was terminated on July 6, with no objection from the State Attorney’s Office. The minutes included a handwritten note: "Graduation! Congratulations!" alongside a smiley face. Gentry expressed concern over the court's handling of the case, stating that Lyons was placed back on outpatient probation in their neighborhood and that victims were excluded from the process.
She also challenged the notion that Lyons experienced a psychiatric break, suggesting he used mental health language as a legal tactic. Gentry stated that Lyons appeared intoxicated during the 2025 assault and that the court provided no tracking updates or safety alerts to prior victims.
According to the National Treatment Court Resource Center, there were 679 adult mental health courts nationwide at the end of 2024. Research suggests that while participation in mental health courts can reduce recidivism, criminal history remains a strong predictor of reoffending.
Gentry's son reportedly learned of the Publix incident and told his mother, "the guy that hit me just stabbed an old man at Publix. You were right."
Lyons is being held without bond at the Charlotte County Jail. His arraignment is scheduled for November 16. Court records indicate Lyons declined a public defender, and it is unclear if he has retained private counsel.