FORT WALTON BEACH - A Shalimar man was charged Friday afternoon with hitting a 77-year-old man on the head with a gun at Sun Plaza on Mary Esther Cut-Off.
The victim was taking Ronald Pak Zern, 32, to the movies about 1 p.m., according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. However, when they arrived Zern wanted to leave and demanded the car keys.
When the victim refused, Zern took out a gun, demanded the keys again and hit the victim on the head with a gun, the Sheriff’s Office reported. The men then struggled until bystanders pulled them apart.
Zern ran off, but deputies found him later at Madison Park Apartments, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested without incident and taken to the county jail.
Zern was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated battery domestic violence, battery on an elderly person and two counts of aggravated assault. He also was served an outstanding warrant on charges of resisting arrest without violence and disorderly conduct
The victim declined medical treatment.
