NYC EMS worker stabbed after she attempted to calm down convicted felon patient: prosecutors

A man with a long criminal history has been indicted after allegedly stabbing an emergency medical technician while being transported to a hospital in New York City.

Rudy Garcia, 48, was hit with a slew of charges in connection with the incident, including attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, and assault in the second degree. The victim, 25-year-old Julia Fatum, suffered stab wounds to her legs, arms, and chest, which required surgery.

On the evening of July 19, Fatum and her team were transporting Garcia from West 94th Street and Amsterdam Avenue to Mount Sinai West Hospital. Just as the ambulance pulled into the emergency dock, Garcia threw a piece of trash at Fatum. When she asked him to stop, he turned violent.

As the New York Post reports, Garcia "became agitated and combative," and pulled out a knife, screaming "F*ck you" before stabbing Fatum numerous times all over her body. She suffered "significant" blood loss and nerve damage in her leg, and was quickly rushed into the hospital, where she received treatment. 

One week, two surgeries, and multiple stitches later, Fatum was released, though as prosecutor Joseph Abrams noted, she is "still suffering from loss of function in the left hand," and will likely need months to fully recover.

A GoFundMe set up to pay for her medical bills has since raised over $44,000.
 

In a statement announcing the charges on Monday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg praised first responders, and offered his condolences to Fatum.

"As alleged, Rudy Garcia viciously attacked an EMT who was doing her job and coming to his aid," he said. "I'm grateful for the swift action of other members of the Mount Sinai Health System and the NYPD. My thoughts are with the victim as she continues to recover and heal."

Fatum's mother was not pleased with how the district attorney and other far-left officials have handled crime in the city, and took to Facebook to vent her frustration. She pointed out that Garcia, originally from the Bronx, had eight prior arrests, including criminal possession of a weapon, assault, menacing with a weapon, drugs, burglary & assault on a police officer.

"He has been released back into civilization 8 times. New York has failed its people," she said. "How is your bail reform working????"

Garcia, who pleaded not guilty in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday, is scheduled to make his next appearance on October 30.