Santee Man Arrested in Nurse Stabbing

Thomas Robert Fredette, 38, arrested after the stabbing attack at the hospital in Torrance

A Santee man faces charges of stabbing a nurse in a Los Angeles-area hospital.

Thomas Robert Fredette, 38, was arrested after Sunday's stabbing attack at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Officials said the suspect walked into the facility, grabbed a nurse  from behind and stabbed her in the ear with a sharp object, sheriff’s officials said.

Fredette entered the hospital about 9:20 a.m. after passing through a weapons screening area, sheriff’s officials said. Once inside, he allegedly went up to a group of nurses, grabbed one of them and stabbed her.

The nurse was able to run away and direct County Services Bureau deputies to Fredette. He was taken into custody and a pencil was recovered as evidence, sheriff’s officials said.

The nurse received medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

A motive for the stabbing was unclear.

Fredette faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon, sheriff’s officials said. He was being held on $130,000 bail.

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