New details have emerged in the disturbing stabbing incident at the Rebecca Towers senior living complex in Miami Beach. Surveillance footage, obtained by authorities, captured an 84-year-old man, identified as John Gula, engaging in a violent altercation with the property manager after being notified of a failed apartment inspection.
The encounter took place on August 4, as reported by WSVN, with police arriving at the address of 150 Alton Road. The surveillance video revealed a verbal dispute between Gula and Amelia Sola Ortiz, the building's property manager, escalating to the point where Gula brandished a foldable knife and proceeded to stab Ortiz in the chest and the back of the head. Ortiz managed to contact a witness for help, following the attack, and was later treated for her injuries at a local hospital.
In another account of the incident, Local 10 described how Gula's actions were met with resistance, as Ortiz was able to wrestle the knife from him, while his girlfriend attempted to restrain him. Neighbors at the Rebecca Towers emerged from their units to witness the aftermath, as Gula stood by and police later responded to the scene to take him into custody. Gula has since been charged with attempted second-degree murder and a judge has ruled that he be held without bond.
Miami Beach Public Information Officer Chris Bess addressed the severity of the situation stating, "It escalated, and unfortunately, the property manager was stabbed." Gula, for his part, has invoked his Fifth Amendment right, declining to provide further details to investigators about the incident, as detailed by WSVN.
