Emergency room staff at an Oklahoma hospital was attacked by a knife-wielding patient on Monday night, severely injuring a security guard and two nurses, police authorities said on Tuesday. A motive has not been determined yet, the Associated Press reported.
While 50-year-old guard Anthony Cantrell was severely cut on the side of his neck, Nurse Steven Estes was bitten on the arm and Nurse Mark Woodruff was cut on his face, arm and back at Deaconess Hospital in northwest Oklahoma City, Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow said.
All three victims were hospitalized in stable condition, treated and released, according to hospital spokeswoman Emily Kezbers.
A third nurse escaped injury in the attack. The knife cut his shirt, but missed him, Wardlow added.
"We commend our employees for their brave action and appreciate the timely response of our community's first responders," according to a statement from the hospital issued by Kezbers, who referred other questions to police.
On late Monday, Keith Bain walked into the hospital's ER seeking medical attention. "Once he got back to an examination room, he became belligerent with the staff and threatened to assault them. He produced a knife and cut a security guard," Wardlow said.
"Nurses who tried to come to the security guards' aid were assaulted by Mr. Bain as well," she said.
Shortly after midnight, the police was contacted by hospital officials, according to Koco.com. But by then, the suspect had barricaded himself inside the room and pulled a sink out of the wall, flooding the room and causing more than $2,500 of damage.
However, a tactical team was eventually able to get inside and arrest the 58-year-old, Wardlow said, adding "Why he was here, I do not know."
Meanwhile, the suspect is being held at the Oklahoma County jail pending formal charges for assault and battery with a deadly weapon and malicious injury and destruction of property over $2,500.
