What started as a golf cart run-in near Veterans Memorial Park in The Villages turned into a near-fatal stabbing, leaving one man airlifted to a trauma center and another now facing attempted murder charges, according to police.
Investigators say a 42-year-old man, identified as William Tyler Warren, was arrested after a March 7 confrontation that left a 39-year-old man with life-threatening abdominal stab wounds. The attack happened around 8 p.m. in a parking lot on Paige Place near the park. The victim was first taken to a local hospital, then flown to UF Health Shands in Gainesville for emergency surgery, where authorities say he survived.
Confrontation On Golf Carts
According to the Lady Lake Police Department, the altercation centered on a 37-year-old woman who had recently moved from Georgia to Florida with Warren. She was in a golf cart with her ex when Warren pulled up in a separate cart and confronted the pair in the parking lot near Veterans Memorial Park.
What followed escalated fast. An arrest report obtained by WESH says Warren told the other man, “I’m going to [expletive] kill you,” before a physical fight broke out. Witnesses later saw the injured man checking himself for blood and realizing he had several deep lacerations to his abdomen.
Police say the woman at the center of the dispute was later arrested herself on an outstanding warrant out of Georgia.
Injuries And Emergency Response
First responders rushed the victim from the scene to UF Health Spanish Plains in Sumter County. From there, he was airlifted to UF Health Shands in Gainesville for emergency surgery and ultimately survived the attack, according to WFTV.
Lady Lake Police Chief Steve Hunt called it “a violent incident that left the victim with serious injuries.” Investigators say they recovered evidence along a golf cart path, including a broken razor blade believed to be connected to the stabbing.
Evidence And Ongoing Investigation
Detectives are also reviewing grainy video that may show the confrontation and attack, according to Villages-News. Police say they are still working to pinpoint the exact spot where the stabbing occurred and to piece together the full sequence of events.
The investigation remains active, with officers continuing to follow leads and analyze the recovered footage and physical evidence.
Manhunt, Arrest, And Charges
Authorities say they tracked Warren to Marion County after the stabbing, checking nearby hotels, following up on tips, and using the recovered video as part of their search. He was arrested Sunday night and booked into the Marion County Jail, and is expected to be transferred to Lake County to face a judge, according to WESH.
The Lady Lake Police Department says Warren has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery. Detectives interviewed him at the Marion County Jail, where they say he admitted his involvement in the incident. The department reports it is coordinating with authorities in both Lake and Marion counties as the case moves forward.
Prosecutors will determine formal charges and set future court dates once the transfer to Lake County is complete, police said.
