The streets of Fall River were soaked in rain and confusion Monday evening, when an unexpected act of violence sent shockwaves through a quiet Massachusetts community already bracing against an incoming storm.

Police lights pierced the gray skies as officers rushed to a local cannabis dispensary, their radios echoing the urgency of a scene few could comprehend — one that would soon dominate headlines across the state.

The victim was later identified as former Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan, once a rising figure in Massachusetts politics who had since turned his focus to business and local community work.

“It was senseless, truly senseless,” said Police Chief Kelly Furtado. “We are doing everything possible to ensure justice is served for what happened outside that shop.”

Authorities confirmed that Flanagan, 45, suffered serious injuries after being stabbed outside his own establishment, the Cosmopolitan Dispensary. He was rushed to the hospital and remains in serious but stable condition.

The suspect, Corree Gonzales, 31, has a history of arrests and reported mental health struggles, according to city officials. He was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon and charged in connection with the attack.

Fall River’s current mayor, Paul Coogan, extended his prayers to Flanagan and his family, commending the swift actions of law enforcement and calling the event “a tragic reminder of the violence that can strike anywhere.”

Hours before the assault, Flanagan had shared a video online of himself singing “Blame It on the Rain” as a storm passed through the city — an eerie moment that now feels like a prelude to the chaos that followed.