Overview
- Colleagues identified the victim as Alberto Rangel, 51, and mourners held a candlelight vigil outside Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
- The attack occurred Dec. 4 around 1:39 p.m. in Ward 86; a five-inch kitchen knife was recovered and a sheriff’s deputy intervened to restrain the assailant.
- Suspect Wilfredo Tortolero Arriechi, 34, was detained at the scene and booked on attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem, and a weapons enhancement as homicide detectives review charges following Rangel’s death.
- Staff had warned supervisors about the patient in recent weeks, and the suspect reportedly sought a doctor earlier that day at San Francisco City Clinic before arriving at the ward.
- The health department says it is adding security officers, limiting access points, and accelerating weapons detection as unions demand a full investigation and criticize reduced deputy staffing at high‑risk units.