Months after a victim’s mother voiced grave concerns about his volatility, Ramsey Thomas Lyons, 47, allegedly attacked a 70-year-old shopper at a Florida Publix with a box cutter, leaving the victim with a severe four-to-six-inch gash on his face and neck. This incident occurred just over three months after Lyons’ probation was prematurely terminated by a mental health court in March 2025, following an unprovoked assault on a teenager in March 2025. The teen’s mother, Shawna Gentry, had vehemently opposed the early termination, urging for jail time and probation, and had warned judicial officials that Lyons posed an active, volatile threat. Despite these warnings, court minutes from July 6, 2025, show Lyons’ probation was ended with no objection from the State Attorney’s Office, accompanied by celebratory notes like “Graduation! Congratulations!” Lyons, who told police he has mental health issues and admitted to planning the attack, allegedly targeted the 70-year-old because he “looked like he was from the 1960s,” stating, “I just pulled it out of my pocket and stuck it in his neck.” The victim, David Terry, was hospitalized with his injuries, while Lyons was apprehended at the scene. Gentry expressed shock and distress, noting that her son’s immediate reaction was that the system had failed to hold Lyons accountable, leading to the stabbing of an innocent senior citizen.
Adapted from: U.S. News Today on Fox News
