Firefighter, EMT stabbed at Boyle Heights hospital

BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A Los Angeles City firefighter and an emergency medical technician were stabbed by a patient while tending to another patient at White Memorial Medical Center in Boyle Heights.

According to investigators, the LAFD EMT and two hospital EMTs were aiding a patient in the hospital's emergency room around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

That's when another patient, already in the hospital for a mental health evaluation, suddenly pulled a knife and stabbed the firefighter and one of the hospital EMTs.

The firefighter was stabbed in the arm. He was transported to a different hospital in fair condition. According to the LAFD, he remained hospitalized as of Thursday morning and was set to undergo surgery.

One of the hospital EMTs was stabbed in the bicep and the other only suffered scratches in the scuffle.

All three injuries were not life-threatening, officials said.

According to a statement released by the hospital, the suspect was quickly subdued by other workers in the ER.

The man was then arrested by Los Angeles police and booked into jail for assault with a deadly weapon on a firefighter.

He was later identified by LAPD as 46-year-old Christopher Clay. He was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.