New Jersey Nurse Allegedly Sets Coworker On Fire In Hospital Break Room Following Argument

KEY POINTS

The attacker worked as a contracted nurse with the hospital
He and the victim had an argument before the former attacked the woman
The suspect escaped from the scene by the time the cops arrived

The New Jersey police are on the lookout for a nurse, who allegedly set his coworker on fire following an argument.

The suspect, identified as Nicholas Pagano, attacked a 54-year-old female employee Monday morning at the Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC). Pagano was not a hospital employee, but had been working as a contracted nurse for the hospital since mid-November, according to ABC7NY.

The alleged attacker got into an argument with the victim before the incident. He entered the break room at around 5.20 a.m. and set the woman on fire. He also allegedly struck her with a wrench. It wasn't clear what led to the argument between Pagano and the victim.

“The victim suffered third-degree burns over her upper body and hands, as well as a laceration to her head that required stitches,” said a statement released by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

The woman was treated at HUMC’s emergency room before receiving additional medical treatment at another hospital. She reportedly worked as a patient care technician at HUMC, sources told NBC New York.

The cops were actively searching for the suspect, who was believed to be driving a 1998 white Jeep Grand Cherokee with black roof racks and New Jersey plates.

“Violence will not be tolerated in our network,” Hackensack Meridian Health said in a statement following the attack, according to Miami Herald. “Our doctors, nurses and teams are true heroes and deserve our respect. The safety of our patients and our team members is Hackensack Meridian Health’s highest priority.”

The statement also said there were “no witnesses to the incident and police have no motive for the attack at this time.” The hospital said their officials are working with law enforcement agencies in the ongoing investigation.

Hackensack Meridian said Pagano worked at the hospital as a contracted agency nurse. The agency, which provides the hospital with traveling nurses, had cleared Pagano for work only after he passed a background check, drug screening and a license review.

Hackensack Police Department requested anyone with information about Pagano’s whereabouts to contact them at (201) 646-7777.