By Mackenna Moralez, Associate Editor

A man died after falling out of a California hospital window in May. The patient was in police custody for allegedly violating a court order. He was admitted to the hospital due to a pre-existing medical condition. 

Prior to the fall, the patient reportedly assaulted an officer and threatened to strike the officer and a nurse with a metal oxygen tank. The officer and hospital staff left the room to call for additional resources. While alone, the suspect used the metal oxygen tank to break a window and jumped onto a ledge. Hospital security guards then entered the room to stop the patient, but they fell approximately 20 feet from the ledge, resulting in life-threatening injuries, according to a press release. Officers and hospital staff provided immediate medical care. He was then transported to a different trauma hospital where he was later pronounced dead.  

A joint criminal investigation by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and the San Jose Police Department’s Homicide Unite is currently underway.  

This is the second fall from a hospital window to make recent news. 

Previously, a patient fell from six stories at UVM Medical Center. Hospital officials said the patient opened and exited a window in a stairwell on the sixth floor, suffering multiple injuries. The patient was stabilized in the emergency department and is receiving ongoing treatment. 

Mackenna Moralez is the associate editor of the facilities market.