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Salem Pizza Shop Owner Attacked During Delivery

SALEM (CBS) - A pizza shop owner in Salem is recovering from a beating he took just trying to make a delivery. The 60-year-old man says he went to a house to drop off some food and came under attack.

It happened Sunday afternoon when Fran Riggieri came to Laurents Road to deliver a chicken Parmesan sub. He got no answer and turned the door knob, thinking it might lead to a common hallway.

WBZ-TV's Ken MacLeod reports

"Right after I jiggled the handle, the guy came out and started screaming at me about why I am trying to enter his home," says Fran.

Riggieri says the guy first demanded an apology, but then got so belligerent that Riggieri retreated to his delivery car, only to have the would-be customer, Timothy Gokey follow him. Gokey allegedly punched Riggieri in the face and slammed him against the car leaving a sizable dent.

Riggieri suffered a black eye and a broken nose.

"I can't imagine a 28-year-old guy attacking a 60-year-old man that is trying to deliver him food that he ordered," says Diane Hamlen, Riggieri's wife.

No one answered when WBZ-TV knocked at Gokey's door Monday afternoon, but his mother summoned police and then his roommate appeared.

Adam Costanzo claims it was Riggieri who cursed, taunted and got in Gokey's face before tackling him and accuses police of turning a deaf ear.

"It's completely ridiculous," says Costanzo. "They didn't care about our side of the story, they didn't want to talk to us, the Salem Police just completely ignored us."

Neighbors who called 911 say they saw a shirtless man on top of Riggieri, pummeling him with both fists. Gokey was charged with assault and battery.

Gokey also intends to file assault charges in this case. Salem Police say they have answered more than 30 calls involving Gokey since 1997 including several fights.

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