Boston EMT Repeatedly Stabbed By Patient

The Republican, Springfield, Mass.

An emergency medical technician who was stabbed multiple times by a patient she was treating, is recovering from her injuries Wednesday night.

The suspect in the attack, Julie Tejeda, 31, of East Boston, is scheduled to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on charges of assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery on a public official, according to Boston News 7.

The attack occurred at about 4 p.m. on New Chardon Street near the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse when two Boston EMS employees were taking a woman to Mass General Hospital, Boston EMS Chief Jim Hooley said in a press conference.

The patient “became unruly,” produced a weapon and attacked the EMT, who is a 14-year-veteran of the department, he said.

Her partner, who was driving, stopped the ambulance to help her. The patient is accused of then pulling out some type of chemical spray or pepper spray from her purse and attacked him with it, Hooley said.

“Boston police arrived very quickly and were able to subdue the patient, thankfully,” he said.

One of the officers also applied a tourniquet to the female EMT’s leg because she was bleeding very heavily. Other EMTs arrived soon after, provided treatment and brought both victims to Massachusetts General Hospital, Hooley said.

Boston EMS later posted an update at about 9:30 p.m. saying the victim is out of surgery and is recovering.

“She is awake and surrounded by her loved ones and her EMS family tonight,” the update said.

The second EMT, who is a 10-year-veteran, was treated for exposure to the chemical spray and released from the hospital, the update said.

“These EMTs did not deserve this. Every day they go out and they help people, they save lives,” Boston Police Commissioner William G. Gross said during the press conference.

He asked anyone who witnessed the attack or has videotape or photographs of it to contact police at 800-494-8477.

Gross declined to release information about what type of weapon was used saying evidence is still being examined.