 "'Indians are bad': How 67-year-old nurse was brutally attacked by patient in US hospital")
In a heartbreaking crime that has shaken the medical community in the United States, a 67-year-old Indian-origin nurse Leelamma Lal was brutally attacked by a patient inside a Florida hospital, leaving her bloodied with deadly facial injuries.
The suspect, 33-year-old Stephen Scantlebury, has been arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder. Prosecutors have also added a hate crime enhancement, citing racist remarks he allegedly made about Lal’s Indian heritage during the vicious attack.
Here’s what we know of the situation so far.
What happened?
The horrific attack took place when Lal, a long-time nurse at Palms West Hospital, entered Scantlebury’s room on the third floor to check on him.
According to an arrest affidavit cited by local news outlet WPBF, “Scantlebury was a psychiatric patient on a Baker Act hold”, which essentially provides hospitalisation to individuals to assess their mental health and address any immediate crisis.
Eyewitnesses say that as soon as Lal entered the room, Scantlebury suddenly leapt onto his bed and launched a violent attack, punching her repeatedly without warning. The assault was so brutal that “essentially every bone in Lal’s face was broken,” authorities said.
Indian-Origin Nurse Left Disfigured After Brutal Attack by Patient in US Hospital
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) March 3, 2025
67-year-old Leelamma Lal was left with severe facial fractures. Stephen Scantlebury (33) has been arrested and is facing charges of attempted second-degree murder and hate crimes - he allegedly… pic.twitter.com/prpg7OLWJb
Following the assault, the nurse was immediately airlifted to the nearest trauma centre in St Mary’s Medical Centre and is now in the intensive care unit (ICU). Authorities say the victim can permanently lose her eyesight.
Lal’s daughter, Cindy Joseph, was shocked to see her mother in the state. “I couldn’t recognise her,” she said. “Both eyes were swollen, she was intubated, her whole face on the right side was swollen, multiple fractures throughout her face, bleeding in the brain.”
Joseph added that her mother will require surgery and weeks of hospitalisation to recover.
“This is gonna forever change the rest of her future, and she’s 67,” she told CBS News. “She has, with her health, a good at least 20 plus years left, and she shouldn’t have to spend them the way she’s gonna have to spend them."
‘Indians are bad’
Following the attack, Palm Beach County Deputy Sergeant Beth Newcomb testified in court that she heard Stephen Scantlebury make a disturbing remark about Lal, “Indians are bad” and “I just beat the sh** out of an Indian doctor.”
His statements led prosecutors to add a hate crime enhancement to his attempted second-degree murder charge.
Explaining the significance of this charge, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office stated, “Hate crime enhancements, if proven, can result in harsher penalties upon conviction. They highlight the motive behind the defendant’s actions and their broader impact on the community.”
After the assault, Police say they caught Scantlebury fleeing as he ran along a nearby road. He was found shirtless, shoeless, and covered in EKG leads.
His wife, Megan Scantlebury, testified in court last week that he had been acting paranoid in the days leading up to the incident.
“He thought there were people trying to harm him,” Megan said in court. “He thought that our house was bugged, that there was people listening. He thought I was involved. He thought the neighbours were involved.”
During the hearing, defence attorneys requested that the suspect be transferred to a mental health facility, however the judge denied the request, calling it “premature.”
Also read: Ninth attack in 3 months: Why young Indian students are being targeted in America
‘No specific laws to protect health care workers’
Since the brutal attack on Leelamma Lal, there has been an outpouring of support for her, along with growing demands for stricter security measures in hospitals.
A petition calling for harsher penalties for those who assault healthcare workers has gained traction, gathering over 9,500 signatures in just two days.
The Hindu American Foundation also condemned the attack, posting on X: “A patient in a Florida hospital is in custody after critically injuring nurse, Leela Lal, taunting that ‘Indians are bad’ and ‘I just beat the sh– out of that Indian doctor.’ Escalating anti-India rhetoric is endangering lives. It must stop.”
The Indian Nurses Association of South Florida echoed similar concerns, pointing out that this is not just an isolated case but a wider safety issue for medical staff.
“The issue here is the risk to our healthcare workers because there are no specific laws to protect the staff,” said Dr Manju Samuel, advisory board chair of the association. “There is a deficiency, and that must be addressed by lawmakers.”
Lal’s daughter, Cindy Joseph, expressed deep frustration over the situation, telling NewsNation that she was “really disappointed in the system.”
“My mom’s been working there for 20+ years; she’s devoted her entire career to the hospital. The fact that this happened at a healthcare facility, which should have proper security, is beyond me,” she said.
Lal, who remains in intensive care, is now reportedly stable. Meanwhile, Scantlebury remains behind bars as legal proceedings move forward.
With input from agencies
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