WE WILL LET YOU KNOW IF ANY
MAJOR ISSUES COME UP.
A BUSY EVENING AND HAPPENING
NOW, THERE’S EXTRA SECURITY AT A
HOSPITAL IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY,
AFTER NURSES AND A DOCTOR WERE
ATTACKED ON THE FLOOR WHERE
CHILDREN ARE BEING TREATED. IT HAPPENED JUST AROUND 7:00
THIS MORNING ON THE FLOOR OF THE
PEDIATRIC ICU.
THERE WAS AN ARGUMENT AND THEN
BLOODSHED.
THREE MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL
STAFF BEING TREATED THEMSELVES.
LET’S GET OUT TO ADAM HARDING
LIVE IN NEWARK WITH AN UPDATE. ADAM?
>> Reporter: WE JUST LEARNED
LATE THIS AFTERNOON THAT THEY
HAVE ALL BEEN RELEASED.
THE INJURIES WERE DESCRIBED
EARLIER AS BEING MINOR. BEING HERE AT THE HOSPITAL.
OF COURSE, THEY WERE TAKEN FROM
THE PEDIATRIC WARD TO THE
EMERGENCY ROOM.
THE QUESTION IN FRONT OF SO MANY
VISITORS, WHAT WESTBOUND, AS
POLICE SAY, A WEAPON WAS USED.
WHAT WAS IT?
>> IT’S REALLY SAD. REALLY SAD.
I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON
WITH PEOPLE NOW TODAY.
BUT WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
>> TONIGHT HOSPITAL VISITORS ARE STILL STUNNED AFTER THE EARLY
MORNING SLASHING SPREE AT NEWARK BETH ISRAEL.
TWO NURSES AND A MEDICAL
RESIDENT ATTACKED INSIDE THE
PEDIATRIC ICU BY A SUSPECT WITH
A WEAPON.
>> I NEED YOU IN SERVICE.
>> Reporter: IT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE 7:00 THIS MORNING.
THE SUSPECT IDENTIFIED AS
37-YEAR-OLD FIRDOUSI ABDUL
HAKIM.
SHE FACES A HANDFUL OF CHARGES
INCLUDING AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.
IN A STATEMENT, THE HOSPITAL SAYS A DOMESTIC DISPUTE
INVOLVING TWO VISITORS TO THE
PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT NEWARK BETTED ISRAEL MEDICAL
CENTER ESCALATED INTO A VIOLENT
INCIDENT RESULTING IN THE
STABBING OF THREE PEOPLE.
NO PATIENTS OR FAMILY MEMBERS WERE INJURED IN THIS INCIDENT.
POLICE HAVE NOT SAID WHAT TYPE
OF WEAPON SHE USED OR HOW SHE
COULD GET IT INTO THE HOSPITAL.
>> IT’S SCARY.
YOU NEVER WANT TO BRING YOUR
KIDS TO A HOSPITAL WHERE YOU
KNOW SOMEBODY STABBED SOMEBODY.
IT’S SCARY.
YOU COME TO GET HAD THAT AND
THEY’RE HURTING YOU.
>> Reporter: ALL THREE WORKERS
WERE SENT TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
THEIR INJURIES DESCRIBED AS
MINOR.
THEY’VE SINCE BEEN RELEASED.
SOME NOW WITH SAFETY CONCERNS.
>> THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
WE HAVE TO DO BETTER AS PEOPLE. WE SHOULDN’T HAVE TO BE UPSET
WITH ANYBODY AND MAKE OUR
PROBLEMS THEIR PROBLEMS.
>> I DON’T KNOW.
THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING BETTER
ABOUT SECURITY.
MY KIDS WERE BORN HERE.
>> Reporter: TONIGHT THE
HOSPITAL IS SAYING IN A
STATEMENT THAT THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY REMAINS THE SAFETY OF
VISITORS, PATIENTS, AND STAFF
HERE AT THE HOSPITAL.
AS FOR THE INVESTIGATION, I MENTIONED THOSE THREE HAVE BEEN
RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL.
TREATED FOR THEIR INJURIES.
AND IT IS STILL UNCLEAR WHAT LED TO THIS VIOLENT ATTACK IN THE