Nurse Leelamma Lal, Brutally Beaten In Suspected Hate Crime May Suffer Permanent Blindness

India-West News Desk

MIAMI, FL – The 67-year-old nurse, Leelamma Lal, faces the possibility of permanent blindness after being viciously attacked by a patient at Palms West Hospital in Loxahatchee, Florida. The assailant, identified as 33-year-old Stephen Scantlebury, reportedly made racist remarks during the assault, prompting authorities to classify the incident as a hate crime.

The attack occurred last month while Lal was attending to Scantlebury, who was under psychiatric evaluation. Witnesses said he suddenly sprang from his hospital bed and launched a brutal assault on Lal, repeatedly punching her in the face. Two others were present in the room—one ran for help, while another returned to find Scantlebury still beating the nurse.

Lal was left with devastating injuries, including multiple facial fractures and a brain bleed. She was rushed to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where doctors are now monitoring her condition. Reports indicate that her vision may be permanently impaired.

Scantlebury fled the hospital but was later apprehended and charged with attempted murder with a hate crime enhancement. During court proceedings, Palm Beach County Deputy Sgt. Beth Newcomb testified that Scantlebury admitted to targeting Lal due to her ethnicity, stating, “Indians are bad” and “I just beat the (expletive) out of an Indian doctor.”

Lal’s daughter, Dr. Cindy Joseph, expressed heartbreak over the life-altering consequences of the attack. “This will forever change the rest of her life. She’s 67, and she had at least 20 more years of good health ahead of her. Now, she’s going to have to live with this trauma,” she told CBS.

Scantlebury’s wife, Megan, told the court that he had been exhibiting paranoia and hallucinations leading up to the attack.

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