Lung cancer patient with 6 months to live allegedly stabbed nurse at Mass. hospital
06/15/2023 4:12 pm PDT
GARDNER, Mass. (TCD) -- Police arrested a 76-year-old lung cancer patient this week who allegedly stabbed a nurse while he was receiving care.
According to a news release from the Gardner Police Department, on Monday, June 12, at around 8 p.m., officers responded to a report of a stabbing at Heywood Hospital. The victim, a nurse, was transported to University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester for medical care.
Prosecutors allege David Nichols grabbed the victim and stabbed her in the neck when she was adjusting something in his hospital room, WBZ-TV reports. The victim reportedly "felt a laceration to her neck" and "immediately screamed for help."
A police report obtained by WBZ showed pictures of a pocket knife, as well as the 3-inch wound the victim sustained, which was close to her carotid artery.
Nichols allegedly told another nurse, "I just need some air."
In an interview, he reportedly told police that he "knew what he did was wrong, but what the hospital was doing was wrong."
According to WBZ, Nichols’ defense attorney, Brian DeMott, said he has lung cancer and was told by a doctor that he has "approximately six months to live."
Police arrested Nichols at the hospital on charges of attempted murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
On Tuesday, June 13, Nicholas was arraigned from his hospital bed while hooked up to oxygen tubes. A judge set his bail at $100,000. Nichols is scheduled to appear in court July 14.
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