BAY POINT — A local resident was accused of using a shovel to knock out another man’s eyeball during a heated argument that began with an alleged incident of domestic violence by the victim, according to court records.
Elijah Reynante, 26, of Bay Point, was charged with attempted murder, mutilation, assault and dissuading a witness for allegedly using a shovel to strike the victim’s face, not only cutting his eyeball, but also causing it to fall out of the socket completely, authorities said. said. Reynante has pleaded not guilty and is due in court Monday for a preliminary hearing.
The charges were filed about six weeks ago, but the alleged incident occurred in September 2023, on Maureen Circle in Bay Point. On September 5 around 9 p.m., Reynante allegedly saw a man push his girlfriend to the ground and decided to intervene.
“Dude, you don’t hit a woman,” Reynante allegedly told the man, prompting the two to confront each other.
Eyewitnesses would later tell police that Reynante appeared to be losing the fight when he grabbed a shovel and hit the man in the head. The victim was hospitalized and his left eye was completely removed, according to police.
Police said a doctor who assessed the victim’s injuries said they could have been fatal if she had been struck with the same force in another part of the head.
Reynante — who was on probation at the time — remains jailed in lieu of $730,000 bail, records show.
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