Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre.

By Michael Mashburn From Daily Voice

A Nassau County grand jury indicted a Freeport man accused of violently attacking two security guards at Mercy Hospital, leaving a 62-year-old retired NYC correction officer unresponsive and on life support, according to prosecutors.

The incident happened around midnight on Thursday, Oct. 16, while 28-year-old Eduard Lopez was being treated at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre, according to the Nassau County DA’s office.

Lopez allegedly became agitated as medical staff attempted to administer sedative medication, prompting multiple security officers to enter the room to assist.

Lopez then charged at staff and punched and kicked the security guards as they tried to restrain him, prosecutors said. One security officer suffered significant pain after being struck in the face and body, according to investigators.

A second guard — a 62-year-old retired New York City Correction Officer — was hit in the head and body during the struggle. After leaving the room and walking toward the nurses’ station, the victim collapsed and went into cardiac arrest.

Medical personnel performed life-saving measures and brought him to the hospital’s intensive care unit, where he remains unresponsive and on life support, prosecutors said.

Lopez was arrested the same day by Nassau County Police. He was arraigned Wednesday, Dec. 10, before Nassau County Judge Colin O’Donnell on an indictment charging him with three counts of second-degree assault and two counts of third-degree assault.

He was jailed on a $500,000 bond. If convicted, Lopez faces up to seven years in prison.