Burglary suspect had "uncontrollable urge" in another possibly drug-fueled Fla. attack
MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — Florida investigators say a violent burglary Sunday morning allegedly stoked by a synthetic drug may have similarities to an incident in which a man killed two people, before biting the face of one his victims, reports CBS affiliate WPEC.
Police say Nico Gallo crashed through the window of a home before attacking a woman and her son. During the ensuing violent struggle, the woman struck Gallo in the head more than a dozen times with an aluminum bat, “but that did not slow him down,” according to a statement the Martin County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook.
Martin County Sheriff William Snyder says Gallo has admitted that he and a friend took a synthetic designer drug, similar to Flakka.
Investigators believe Gallo took it minutes before he allegedly dove through the front window of the victims’ home.
“He said it felt like there was something outside of him, propelling him. He was almost wrestling with himself as we read through his confession and he felt an uncontrollable urge to go into that house,” Snyder said.
Snyder said Gallo, who has no previous criminal history, took full responsibility for his actions and has been very remorseful. The sheriff said the suspect even wrote an apology letter and gave detectives a full confession to the incident.
Gallo is charged with burglary of a dwelling with assault or battery and is held at the Martin County on a $300,000 bond.
Investigators noted that the unusual strength Gallo displayed resembled that of Austin Harrouff, another 19-year-old with no criminal record who allegedly attacked and killed a couple nearly two weeks ago in the same county.
The Martin County Sheriff’s office says it took multiple deputies – one of whom deployed a Taser – and a K-9 to subdue Austin Harrouff after he fatally beat and stabbed John Stevens III, 59; and his wife Michelle Mishcon, 53, Aug. 15 in a quiet neighborhood north of Jupiter. Sheriff William Snyder said Harrouff was “abnormally strong,” growling like an animal and biting off pieces of Stevens’ face.
Harrouff suffered intestinal damage during the attack, possibly from ingesting chemicals that were in the victims’ garage. He is expected to be charged with first-degree murder.