A nurse is fighting for her life after being attacked and lit on fire in the early morning hours of February 7th by a man at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, according to multiple sources.
The male attacker, who was later identified as 31 year old Nicholas Pagano — a travel nurse working at the same hospital, reportedly burned the victim’s upper body and lower face with what may have been a culinary torch before smashing her in the head with a plumber’s wrench.
The attack reportedly stemmed from an argument in the staff lounge that occurred shortly before 5:30 a.m. on Monday, February 7th. Pagano then fled the scene in his car.
The victim suffered third-degree burns on her upper body and hands, and a head wound that required stiches. After being treated in the Hackensack University Medical Center Emergency Room, she was transferred to a burn center, where she was reported to be in critical but stable condition.
Hackensack University Medical Center issued a statement confirming that there had been “an incident between a contracted agency nurse” and a staffer in a break room.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family,” the statement said.
The police were immediately dispatched to search for the suspect, who was wanted on attempted murder, aggravated arson, aggravated assault, and weapons charges.
The following morning, Pagano’s body was discovered in a wooded area in Waterford Township, which is a two hour drive of more than 100 miles from Hackensack.
According to law enforcement sources, he had shot himself once in a chest using a gun that had allegedly been stolen from his brother’s home.
Hackensack University Medical Center employees were notified of Pagano’s suicide at around 10:30 a.m.
“We have just been informed by officials investigating yesterday’s tragic incident at our hospital that the suspect who attacked our team member has been located and is deceased,” President & Chief Hospital Executive Mark D. Sparta wrote in a statement. “Please continue to keep our team member and her family in your thoughts and prayers.”
