SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A man stabbed another man sitting in the waiting room of Upstate University Hospital’s emergency room January 9.
The altercation happened around 11:40 a.m., reports LocalSyr.com. Sabier Young, 44, pretended to be hit by a car in the parking lot and was taken to the ER in a wheelchair, reports CNYCentral. Because he was an alleged victim of an accident and was in a wheelchair, he was not screened by metal detectors for weapons.
Young then allegedly stabbed the victim sitting in the waiting room with a knife. The victim tried to run away, but Young kept stabbing him. Both the suspect and the victim then wrestled on the ground until security officers and University Police arrived.
The victim was with his young child at the ER when the altercation happened. The father was stabbed several times on the right side of his abdomen, reports CNY Central. He was treated for his injuries and then released.
Officials don’t believe the victim and suspect knew each other. Young was also experiencing homelessness and apparently has mental health issues.
Young has been charged with attempted murder, criminal weapons possession, resisting arrest, menacing, and child endangerment.
In response to the attack, Upstate University Hospital will create a task force to recommend and implement security changes in the ER. Those changes will include more officer training; screening every patient for weapons before they are allowed to enter the ER; deploying more officers in the ER; installing panic buttons; and installing a one-way window where staff can view the waiting room.
