Florida Panhandle man charged in alleged tire iron ‘blitz-attack’ on hospital nurse

Florida Panhandle man charged in alleged tire iron ‘blitz-attack’ on hospital nurse

In what the Okaloosa County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office described as a “blitz-attack,” a 27-year-old Ft. Walton Beach man attacked a nurse with a tire iron outside a local hospital Thursday morning.

According to the OCSO, the nurse was taking a break near an employee parking lot at HCA Florida Fort Walton Beach-Destin Hospital about 3 a.m. Thursday when she was attacked by a man, later identified as Raul Alfredo Milla Jr.

The nurse, who was not identified, was able to fight off Milla, but not before she suffered “five or six” blows to the head, according to the sheriff’s office, which caused severe lacerations and swelling.

The nurse was able to provide a good description of Milla, and deputies were able to locate him riding a bicycle not far from the hospital. A bloody tire iron was in the bicycle’s basket and Milla’s shirt had a fresh blood stain on it, according to the OCSO.

Milla is charged with attempted murder and is being held without bond at the Okaloosa County Jail, pending an initial court appearance.

Information on the victim’s condition was not immediately available.