By Travis Fedschun, Fox News
Authorities in Tennessee are searching for a man who allegedly hacked his former boss to death with a hatchet and another sharp object while he was leading a workout routine at as Nashville-area fitness center.
Metro Nashville Police said Domenic Micheli, 36, was seen on surveillance video pacing back and forth in a parking garage beneath The Balance Training center at a shopping center in the Belle Meade community before going inside and attacking 46-year-old Joel Paavola around 7 a.m. Monday.
(Metro Nashville Police have asked the public’s help in locating a suspect wanted in connection with a fatal attack involving a hatchet. Courtesy of NewsChannel 5 and YouTube. Posted on June 4, 2018)
“Micheli brutally, savagely attacked Paavola at the front of the business,” Metro Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron told reporters.
BREAKING: Domenic Micheli, 36, being sought in relation to this morning’s fatal attack on a male employee of Balance Fitness, 5133 Harding Pike. A hatchet was reportedly used. See Micheli? Please call 615-862-8600 immediately. pic.twitter.com/vZLyUIof9o
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) June 4, 2018
Micheli struck his former boss several times with the hatchet and another weapon, a possible second hatchet or large knife, before fleeing the shopping center in an older model small silver Toyota Prius or Yaris, according to police.
“It’s just a senseless, violent, brutal attack this morning on Mr. Paavola as he was there in the business,” Aaron said Monday.
Nashville police said Tuesday that after the attack, Micheli went to an urgent care facility in Gallatin, located about 30 miles northwest of downtown Nashville.
The MNPD continues to urge citizens in this region to be on the lookout for accused murderer Domenic Micheli. Detectives learned this morning that he went to a Gallatin urgent care Mon morning (photos below). He was limping from a left leg injury. See Micheli? 615-862-8600 pic.twitter.com/iOjZJagcFE
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) June 5, 2018
The 36 year told was “limping from a left leg injury,” according to police.
Officials said Micheli was arrested on April 27, 2018 for driving his car to a checkpoint near the White House and refusing orders to move.
The judge subsequently ordered a mental evaluation and treatment when there was questions about whether Micheli was mentally fit to stand trial, FOX17 reported.
Search continues for accused murderer Domenic Micheli. This photo is from his April 2018 arrest in Washington, D.C. for unlawful entry at a checkpoint near the White House. See Micheli or know where he is? 615-862-8600. He is likely driving a silver Toyota Yaris or Prius. pic.twitter.com/Gio7IFDevK
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) June 4, 2018
The 36-year-old is also known to have been in Oregon in August 2017, police said.
Micheli’s Facebook page contains posts written in short sentences arranged in the form of a poem where he frequently he calls himself the “‘Sun’ of God.”
He also bragged about keeping a hatchet and two knives in his car, according to FOX17.
Authorities said that Paavola had fired Micheli about 14 months ago.
Paavola, who managed the business, died on the way to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and was remembered as a fitness guru who gave speeches about healthy lifestyle choices.
A GoFundMe account was set up for Paavola, who was married with five children, and has raised over $78,000 as of Tuesday morning.
Nashville restaurateur Randy Rayburn told The Tennessean that he worked out with Paavola for a few years at another gym and was heartbroken about his death.
“I went through boot camp twice with Joel,” Rayburn said.
“Joel was one of the most enthusiastic and well-rounded people I’ve ever known in my life.”
“He was just a wonderful father and human being.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
