A routine stop for fuel turned into a harrowing and violent encounter for a 61-year-old man and his family at a gas station in Hobe Sound on Friday afternoon. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the arrests of two men involved in what deputies are calling a “brutal and unprovoked battery” at the Cumberland Farms gas station on Federal Highway.

The incident began when the victim, who was towing a large pontoon boat and traveling with his wife and grandchildren, honked his horn at a pickup truck that was blocking access to a fuel pump for an extended period. What started as a simple request for space quickly escalated into a violent assault.

According to witnesses and law enforcement officials, the driver of the truck, identified as 49-year-old Shane Thomas Blois of Hobe Sound, exited his vehicle and began yelling at the victim. The confrontation turned physical when Shane allegedly retrieved a rubber mallet from his truck and repeatedly struck the victim across his body.

Moments later, a second man—later identified as Shane’s brother, Erick R. Blois—arrived in a separate vehicle and joined in the attack. Witnesses described a chaotic and frightening scene, with family members of the victim watching in horror as the two men battered the elderly individual.

After the assault, both suspects fled the scene in different vehicles. However, due to quick-thinking bystanders who captured the license plate numbers and provided detailed witness statements, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office was able to identify and track down both men.

The 61-year-old victim was transported to a local hospital with multiple non-life-threatening injuries, including bruises and contusions sustained during the attack. His condition has not been updated, but authorities say he is expected to recover physically.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office released the following charges:

• Shane Thomas Blois: Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He is currently being held at the Martin County Jail.
• Erick R. Blois: Battery. He was also booked into the Martin County Jail.

“This kind of violence is shocking and completely unacceptable,” said a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office. “We want to thank the citizens who came forward with critical information that helped us swiftly identify and arrest the individuals involved.”

The sheriff’s office also encouraged anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have video footage to contact their tip line, as the investigation remains ongoing.

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