Freeport Man Charged After October Incident Left Hospital Security Guard On Life Support: DA

MINEOLA, NY. — A Freeport man was arraigned Wednesday and faces assault charges after prosecutors said he attacked security guards at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre in October.

28-year-old Eduard Lopez faces three counts of second-degree assault and two counts of third-degree assault, prosecutors said. His next date in court is scheduled for Jan. 9, 2026, prosecutors said. If found guilty, he could serve up to seven years in prison, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said the charges stemmed from an incident involving Lopez that took place just after midnight on Oct. 16. Lopez was being treated at Mercy Hospital and then became agitated, at which point hospital staff attempted to sedate him and called security guards to assist, prosecutors said.
Lopez became violent with hospital staff as they attempted to medicate him, striking two security guards in the head and body, prosecutors said. One of the security guards, a 62-year-old retired New York City Correction Officer, left the room and approached the nurses’ station, where he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said the 62-year-old was unresponsive with no pulse, prompting hospital staff to make efforts to revive him and move him to the intensive care unit. Nearly 60 days after the incident, District Attorney Anne Donnelly said, the man remains on life support.

“Irate and unwilling to accept help from medical professionals, this defendant allegedly violently charged, punched, and kicked at security staff trying to restrain him so that medication could be administered,” Donnelly said. “Both security guards suffered injuries in the altercation, but a 62-year-old guard hit during the attack went into cardiac arrest after stepping out of the room and collapsed. Though emergency intervention saved his life, he remains, months after the aggressive encounter, unresponsive and on life support. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones as we prosecute this defendant.”

Lopez was arrested Oct. 16. His attorney, Jenna Spelke, did not respond to requests for comment.