An unidentified security guard responded to a threat at Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh, New York, on November 13. According to a statement from the city of Newburgh’s police department, a man identified as town resident Carlos Ortiz brought a knife into the emergency room. After pulling the fire alarm, Ortiz allegedly attacked the security guard, who fatally shot Ortiz.
Meanwhile, Chamika Hataurusinghe was accompanying her husband to the emergency room that night, for an infection on his finger. However, she ended up needing more urgent treatment. Hataurusinghe said she was ushered by nurses into the lobby as the fire alarm went off. She saw two men fighting in her direction so she stood up to move out of the way. That’s when she noticed the pain in her leg.
“As soon as I stood up, I realized my left leg got like totally numb. And then I screamed… I was looking at the people and said, ‘My leg hurts. My leg hurts.’ And no one cared. I thought I’m in shock… And so I was looking behind and I saw the one guy was laying on the floor. Another lady came and she gave me a wheelchair, and she took me inside to the ER…. Then, doctors opened my towel and they said I got a gunshot. And then next day they told me that it has gone inside and they did a surgery and took the bullet out.”
Radio Catskill also spoke to Ryan Greenbaum, Executive Assistant District Attorney. He said they can’t give any more information unless charges are filed against the security guard. “ We’ve acknowledged that we are conducting the investigation but we we’re not in a position at this point to disclose any further details,” he said. St. Luke’s did not respond to requests for comment and the fire department, who came on scene, referred press requests to the City Manager, who also did not respond. This is an ongoing investigation.
Photo Credit: Main entrance to Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh, New York. Courtesy of https://www.montefioreslc.org/