‘Indians are dangerous’: How 67-year-old nurse was brutally attacked by affected person in US hospital

In a heartbreaking crime that has shaken the medical neighborhood in the USA, a 67-year-old Indian-origin nurse Leelamma Lal was brutally attacked by a affected person inside a Florida hospital, leaving her bloodied with lethal facial accidents.

The suspect, 33-year-old Stephen Scantlebury, has been arrested and charged with tried second-degree homicide. Prosecutors have additionally added a hate crime enhancement, citing racist remarks he allegedly made about Lal’s Indian heritage through the vicious assault.

Right here’s what we all know of the scenario thus far.

What occurred?

The horrific assault befell when Lal, a long-time nurse at Palms West Hospital, entered Scantlebury’s room on the third ground to test on him.

Based on an arrest affidavit cited by native information outlet WPBF, “Scantlebury was a psychiatric affected person on a Baker Act maintain”, which primarily supplies hospitalisation to people to evaluate their psychological well being and deal with any speedy disaster.

Eyewitnesses say that as quickly as Lal entered the room, Scantlebury out of the blue leapt onto his mattress and launched a violent assault, punching her repeatedly with out warning. The assault was so brutal that “primarily each bone in Lal’s face was damaged,” authorities stated.

Indian-Origin Nurse Left Disfigured After Brutal Assault by Affected person in US Hospital

67-year-old Leelamma Lal was left with extreme facial fractures. Stephen Scantlebury (33) has been arrested and is dealing with fees of tried second-degree homicide and hate crimes – he allegedly… pic.twitter.com/prpg7OLWJb

— RT_India (@RT_India_news) March 3, 2025

Following the assault, the nurse was instantly airlifted to the closest trauma centre in St Mary’s Medical Centre and is now within the intensive care unit (ICU). Authorities say the sufferer can completely lose her eyesight.

Lal’s daughter, Cindy Joseph, was shocked to see her mom within the state. “I couldn’t recognise her,” she stated. “Each eyes have been swollen, she was intubated, her complete face on the precise aspect was swollen, a number of fractures all through her face, bleeding within the mind.”

Joseph added that her mom would require surgical procedure and weeks of hospitalisation to get better.

“That is gonna ceaselessly change the remainder of her future, and she or he’s 67,” she advised CBS Information. “She has, together with her well being, a very good a minimum of 20 plus years left, and she or he shouldn’t need to spend them the way in which she’s gonna need to spend them.”

‘Indians are dangerous’

Following the assault, Palm Seaside County Deputy Sergeant Beth Newcomb testified in courtroom that she heard Stephen Scantlebury make a disturbing comment about Lal, “Indians are dangerous” and “I simply beat the sh** out of an Indian physician.”

His statements led prosecutors so as to add a hate crime enhancement to his tried second-degree homicide cost.

Explaining the importance of this cost, the Palm Seaside County Sheriff’s Workplace acknowledged, “Hate crime enhancements, if confirmed, can lead to harsher penalties upon conviction. They spotlight the motive behind the defendant’s actions and their broader influence on the neighborhood.”

After the assault, Police say they caught Scantlebury fleeing as he ran alongside a close-by street. He was discovered shirtless, shoeless, and lined in EKG leads.

His spouse, Megan Scantlebury, testified in courtroom final week that he had been appearing paranoid within the days main as much as the incident.

“He thought there have been folks attempting to hurt him,” Megan stated in courtroom. “He thought that our home was bugged, that there was folks listening. He thought I used to be concerned. He thought the neighbours have been concerned.”

Through the listening to, defence attorneys requested that the suspect be transferred to a psychological well being facility, nevertheless the decide denied the request, calling it “untimely.”

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‘No particular legal guidelines to guard well being care employees’

Because the brutal assault on Leelamma Lal, there was an outpouring of help for her, together with rising calls for for stricter safety measures in hospitals.

A petition calling for harsher penalties for many who assault healthcare employees has gained traction, gathering over 9,500 signatures in simply two days.

The Hindu American Basis additionally condemned the assault, posting on X: “A affected person in a Florida hospital is in custody after critically injuring nurse, Leela Lal, taunting that ‘Indians are dangerous’ and ‘I simply beat the sh– out of that Indian physician.’ Escalating anti-India rhetoric is endangering lives. It should cease.”

The Indian Nurses Affiliation of South Florida echoed related issues, declaring that this isn’t simply an remoted case however a wider security situation for medical workers.

“The problem right here is the chance to our healthcare employees as a result of there aren’t any particular legal guidelines to guard the workers,” stated Dr Manju Samuel, advisory board chair of the affiliation. “There’s a deficiency, and that have to be addressed by lawmakers.”

Lal’s daughter, Cindy Joseph, expressed deep frustration over the scenario, telling NewsNation that she was “actually disillusioned within the system.”

“My mother’s been working there for 20+ years; she’s devoted her total profession to the hospital. The truth that this occurred at a healthcare facility, which ought to have correct safety, is past me,” she stated.

Lal, who stays in intensive care, is now reportedly steady. In the meantime, Scantlebury stays behind bars as authorized proceedings transfer ahead.

With enter from companies