A hospital nurse in Florida was left critically injured after a brutal attack by a patient, authorities confirmed.
The suspect, 33-year-old Stephen Scantlebury, now faces attempted murder charges following the violent assault at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
Deputies with the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office responded to a distress call on the hospital’s third floor, where they found the nurse in critical condition. The severity of the injuries was staggering—according to an affidavit, “essentially every bone in the victim’s face is broken, and the victim is likely to lose the use of both eyes.”
Following the attack, the patient fled the hospital and ran into traffic. Video footage captured him running shirtless on the highway, with what appeared to be EKG leads still attached to his chest.
Authorities quickly apprehended him, and he is currently undergoing medical clearance before facing legal proceedings.
The injured nurse was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in West Palm Beach for treatment. Meanwhile, detectives are still investigating the incident, with no clear motive released at this time.
This shocking and violent attack underscores ongoing concerns about the safety of healthcare workers, who continue to face rising levels of workplace violence.
HCA Florida Healthcare said in a statement Tuesday night:
“Our primary concern is with our beloved colleague and we are praying for her recovery. We are also providing support to our hospital staff who are understandably shaken by this incident. The attack on our nursing colleague happened within a matter of seconds and was witnessed by multiple people who came to assist. We are grateful to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office who acted to detain the suspect and we are assisting law enforcement in their investigation.”
