Social worker dies after stabbed by patient at SF General Hospital; suspect arrested: authorities

SAN FRANCISCO -- A 31-year-old social worker who was stabbed multiple times in an attack at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital died Saturday, police said.

The name of the victim was not released by the San Francisco Department of Public Health, citing state and federal privacy laws.

A 34-year-old San Francisco man was taken into custody after the attack about 1:39 p.m. Thursday, police said.

The incident occurred in a hallway in the hospital's Ward 86, according to a statement from the San Francisco County Sheriff's Office, which is responsible for security at the hospital. Ward 86 is the location of the HIV clinic at the hospital's main campus.

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The victim's injuries included wounds to the neck and shoulder. Medical staff performed lifesaving measures, including CPR, and the victim was taken to an operating room in critical condition.

Deputies recovered a 5-inch kitchen knife believed to have been used in the attack.

The suspect was booked into San Francisco County Jail for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem and being armed during the commission of a felony, police said. The police department's Homicide Detail will be updating the charges upon review of the case, police said.

"We are mourning the loss of a dedicated social worker and union member. And our thoughts and prayers are with their family, their friends and their colleagues. And our members are on the frontlines day in and day out," said Dan Russell, president of UPTE, the social worker's union. "I think our workers are sad. They're crushed, you know, to lose one of their colleagues. And, you know, at the same time, I think they are very angry that this was allowed to happen."

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In reaction to the slaying, the Health Department said it has taken steps to improve staff safety such as adding more security, limiting access points, and speeding up the installation of weapons detection systems.

"We are also conducting a full investigation and are committed to making both immediate and long-term safety improvements at all our facilities," the department said Saturday in a press release.

"We have witnessed an extraordinary outpouring of love and kindness from staff, patients, and community members," it said. "Hundreds of people have come forward over the past several days to offer support, reflecting the profound impact our colleague had as a caregiver, friend, family member, and human being. Their dedication to serving others was evident in every aspect of their work, and they will be deeply missed."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the San Francisco Police Department at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.

ABC7's Tara Campbell contributed to this report

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