What started as a routine walk-out of a discharged patient turned into a violent confrontation Sunday at an Uptown New Orleans medical facility, when a security guard was stabbed after trying to escort the patient from the building, authorities said.
New Orleans EMS brought the guard to a nearby trauma center, and officials said Monday that he was in stable condition. The suspect was detained at the scene and later booked into Orleans Parish Prison.
According to NOLA.com, the New Orleans Police Department identified the suspect as 33-year-old Edwin Williams. Police say Williams refused to leave after being discharged and pulled a knife when the guard tried to escort him, stabbing the guard during the struggle. Officers detained Williams in the 1400 block of Foucher Street, the outlet reported.
Where It Happened
The stabbing took place in the 1400 block of Foucher Street, the same block that includes Touro Hospital and Touro Infirmary. Touro Infirmary's contact page lists the hospital's address as 1401 Foucher Street, and the facility houses an emergency department on that block.
Arrest and Charges
Booking records from the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, referenced in reporting by NOLA.com, show that Williams was booked into Orleans Parish Prison on a count of attempted second-degree murder. The records also list counts of possession of crack cocaine and introducing contraband in prison. Police say the investigation is ongoing.
Hospital Safety and the Bigger Picture
The attack comes against the backdrop of growing concern about violence against hospital workers nationwide. Health care and social service settings account for a large share of nonfatal workplace violence incidents that lead to missed work.
The CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has documented elevated rates of patient-initiated assaults in medical settings and the toll such incidents take on staff and services. Recent reporting has noted that health care settings made up roughly 73% of nonfatal workplace violence incidents requiring missed work in 2021-22, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Hospitals and regulators have responded with updated prevention guidance and stepped-up security measures, even as workers continue to face volatile situations inside facilities that are supposed to be places of healing.
What's Next
The New Orleans Police Department is investigating the incident, and the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office is holding Williams in custody. Prosecutors in Orleans Parish will decide whether to file formal charges and determine the next steps in court.
Officials have not released additional details about the guard's condition beyond the Monday update noting that he was in stable condition.
Legal Note
Attempted second-degree murder is a serious violent felony under Louisiana law. Second-degree murder itself carries severe penalties under La. R.S. 14:30.1. An attempted charge indicates that prosecutors allege the defendant tried to commit that violent offense and that the case will move through the local court system.
For statute details, see La. R.S. 14:30.1 on FindLaw.
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