WWII Vet attacked... with an American flag

Words simply fail me.

93-Year-Old Vet Ambushed, Beaten By Man With American Flag, Attack Suspect Arrested

POSTED: 12:13 am EDT May 11, 2006
UPDATED: 9:21 am EDT May 11, 2006

A 28-year-old man in Winter Park, Fla., was arrested and charged late Wednesday with ambushing and carjacking a 93-year-old World War II veteran, according to Local 6 News.

Police said Bruno Antonietti was on his way to exercise at a YMCA Wellness Center in Winter Park when he was attacked.

Antonietti said he noticed someone approaching him carrying an American flag on a wooden pole before the attack last weekend and was not suspicious.

"What he didn't know was that (the flag) was a potential weapon," Local 6 reporter Jessica D'Onofrio said. "However, he does not recall being beaten with it."

Antonietti was beaten and left bleeding in the parking lot, the report said.

"He grabbed the keys and pushed me and I went back," Antonietti said. "I said what do you want and he says, 'I want your car.' And, I said, 'Get out of here.'"

Sunday, Antonietti's stolen Toyota was found abandoned in Parramore. And after an investigation, detectives were able to link Brian Stusalitus to the crime, D'Onofrio said.

Stusalitus was arrested and allegedly confessed to the crime, according to the report.

"It was transportation to get him to where he could buy crack," Winter Park police Lt. Wayne Farrell said. "He would steal other things and sell those things for crack."

"I would like to see him in jail for the rest of his life at least," Antonietti said.

Stusalitus is being held at the Orange County Jail on carjacking and abuse of the elderly charges.