Overview
- Gardy Coriolan, 63, remains critically injured on life support with severe brain damage after an alleged assault by a patient in Mercy Hospital’s emergency department on Oct. 15.
- Prosecutors have charged 28-year-old Eduard Lopez with second-degree assault, and his scheduled arraignment was postponed after he reported being medically unwell.
- Officials say the attack occurred around 12:30 a.m., and charging documents state Lopez struck Coriolan in the jaw as the guard intervened to protect a doctor.
- Mercy Hospital, part of Catholic Health, says its team de-escalated the situation and was fully staffed, a claim the family disputes as they cite thin overnight coverage and safety concerns.
- Relatives are urging upgraded counts such as first-degree assault or attempted murder and are asking to review any video tied to the investigation.