Suspect in social worker's SF hospital killing no-shows in court
Suspect in social worker's hospital killing a no-show in court
The man charged with murdering a social worker at SF General Hospital did not appear in court because he is still being held at a locked psych ward there.
SAN FRANCISCO - A group of activists on Tuesday demanded accountability over safety at Zuckerberg SF General Hospital in the wake of the deadly stabbing of a social worker, hours after the suspect failed to appear in court.
‘Rainbow ambassador’ calls for review of security protocols
What they're saying:
"He gave his life protecting people with AIDS, and his co-workers," said self-proclaimed rainbow ambassador Michael Petrelis of People with AIDS Network.
Petrelis said the stabbing death of UCSF social worker Alberto Rangel at the hospital should never have happened and demanded investigations and a town hall into the tragedy.
"It should not take the loss of life to deliver much-needed accountability over the practices of the sheriff's deputies," said Petrelis, referring to at least one deputy who was assigned to protect a doctor allegedly threatened by the suspect. It was unclear whether any deputies had been shadowing or following the suspect, Wilfredo Tortolero-Arreichi.
On Thursday, police say Tortolero-Arreichi was walking with the social worker toward an elevator when the suspect grabbed the victim from behind and stabbed him numerous times in the neck.
Rangel, 51, died at the hospital on Saturday.
The Department of Public Health says it's conducting a top-to-bottom review and has also hired an outside firm to investigate security measures at the hospital.
SF General says it's already sped up the installation of weapons screening systems, increased the number of guards and added security wanding.
"The measures that they say they've implemented this week should have been implemented a long time ago," Petrelis said.
Suspect fails to appear in court
What we know:
Also Tuesday, the accused killer was to have made his first court appearance on a murder charge filed by San Francisco prosecutors. But the defendant was a no-show as he's still being held at a locked psych ward at the hospital.
"I want to give my condolences to the victim, his family, his friends, his colleagues, everyone in his life," his attorney, Deputy Public Defender Sylvia Nguyen said outside court.
She says she needs to consult with her client to help determine next steps.
"I obviously need to have time to review the materials, and even more importantly, I need to have time to meet with him," Nguyen said,
Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan
The Source: KTVU reporting, San Francisco DA and public defender
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Social worker stabbed by patient at SF General HIV care clinic
A 31-year-old UCSF social worker was stabbed by a patient on Thursday at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital at 22nd Street and Potrero Avenue. The stabbing victim is now in critical condition, according to the sheriff's office.