Nurse Assaulted in Florida: Hate Crime Charges Filed Against Attacker

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An Indian-origin nurse, Leela Lal, was brutally assaulted by a psychiatric patient in a Palm Beach County hospital on March 5, 2025, leaving her with severe injuries, including multiple facial fractures and brain bleeding. The attack, which lasted one to two minutes and was captured on surveillance footage, involved the assailant, 33-year-old Stephen Scantlebury, allegedly making racist remarks during and after the incident. According to Lal’s daughter, Cindy Joseph, the severity of her mother's injuries was devastating, describing her as "unrecognizable" following the assault.

Scantlebury has been charged with attempting second-degree murder with a hate crime enhancement. While Scantlebury's wife reported that he was experiencing paranoia prior to the attack, a judge denied a request to transfer him to a mental health facility, citing the case as "premature." The brutal nature of the attack has raised urgent concerns about the safety of healthcare professionals, prompting calls for enhanced security measures in medical settings.

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