Metro

NYC EMS worker released from hospital after being stabbed by felon as mom lashes out at bail reform

Video shows EMT released from hospital after being stabbed
0 seconds of 49 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:49
00:49
 

The mother of a New York City EMS worker stabbed inside an ambulance by a convicted felon last week blamed the state’s bail reform for the savage attack — and said the Big Apple “has failed its people.”

Cara Fatum-Grant, the mother of 25-year-old EMT Julia Fatum, wrote on Facebook that her daughter’s accused assailant should never have been allowed to roam the streets, given his extensive criminal history.

“Fact: Rouldoph [sic] ‘Rudy’ Garcia, 48 of Bronx NY has eight prior arrests, including criminal possession of a weapon, assault, menacing with a weapon, drugs, burglary & assault on a police officer,” Fatum-Grant wrote in a post. “He has been released back into civilization 8 times.”

“New York has failed its people,” she added. “How is your bail reform working????”

Fatum-Grant was referring to a 2019 state law that eliminated the use of cash bail for most misdemeanors and some non-violent felony charges, which has allowed suspected offenders to be released pending trial.

The distraught mom’s daughter was released from Mount Sinai Hospital West on Wednesday. She was cheered on by a crowd of fellow EMTs waving signs that read, “We’re here for you Julia!” as she was pushed down the walkway in a wheelchair.

She smiled and waved with one hand, while her other arm was contained in a sling and holding onto a cane. Bandages covered her leg, according to a video. 

Julia Fatum, the NYC EMT stabbed last week was released from Mount Sinai Hospital West on Wednesday. ABC
She smiled and waved with one hand, while her other arm was contained in a sling and holding onto a cane. Bandages covered her leg, according to a video.  ABC

Fatum-Grant said she was overwhelmed by everyone’s support for her daughter in an interview with ABC7 outside the hospital.

“I don’t think Julia is ever worried about anything, she’s tough, takes on the world,” she said. “If this makes a difference in the safety of her fellow EMTs …I know that she would do it all over again.”

There have been 121 attacks on FDNY EMTs so far this year, according to the fire department.

In a brief statement released through her mother, Fatum thanked her supporters and said she was “stable and on the road to recovery.”

She was cheered on by a crowd of fellow EMTs waving signs that read, “We’re here for you Julia!” as she was pushed down the walkway in a wheelchair. ABC
Fatum-Grant said she was overwhelmed by everyone’s support for her daughter in an interview with ABC7 outside the hospital. ABC

In an update Tuesday, the mom shared that Fatum was set to be discharged Wednesday from Mt. Sinai Hospital, where she has been treated for her injuries for a week.

“We are so excited to share that Julia is going home,” Fatum-Grant gushed. “First stage of recovery [is] in the books!”

Fatum, a member of the Mt. Sinai and NYU EMS, was transporting Garcia to the hospital after responding to a cardiac arrest call on the Upper West Side on July 19 when he allegedly produced a kitchen knife and proceeded to stab the medic in the arm and leg.

EMS worker Julia Fatum, 25, in her hospital bed after being repeatedly stabbed by a patient inside an ambulance last week. Facebook/Julia Fatum
Fatum’s mother blamed New York state’s bail reform for allowing her daughter’s alleged attacker to be out on the street. Facebook/Julia Fatum

The 48-year-old has been described as emotionally disturbed, according to sources speaking to The Post, but no exact motive for the knife attack has been released.

Graphic video obtained by The Post showed the chaotic aftermath of Fatum’s stabbing, depicting the bloodied EMT collapsing to the ground while screaming and sobbing.

“I don’t know what happened,” Garcia could be heard saying, after being ordered by first responders to “back off” and keep his hands down.

“You stabbed her, bro!” an EMS worker replies.

Dramatic video shows Fatum being tended to by first responders after her stabbing on July 19.
Fatum suffered injuries to her chest, arm and leg that caused a significant loss of blood and left her with nerve damage. Robert Mecea

During Garcia’s arraignment Friday, prosecutors revealed that Fatum sustained wounds to the chest, arm and leg resulting in “significant” blood loss, and suffered nerve damage in her thigh requiring additional surgery.

After Garcia was taken into custody, he told a detective that the EMTs treating him “are fake” and “kidnapped” him and argued he didn’t need medical help, Assistant District Attorney Lauren Breen told the court.

Garcia was arraigned on a count of attempted murder and ordered held on $500,000 bail.

According to police and prosecutors, Garcia’s criminal history includes eight prior arrests — the most recent in June after he was caught in a subway station with a knife hidden in his boot.

Rudy Garcia, 48, was arraigned Friday on an attempted murder charge in connection with the knife attack. Steven Hirsch

Garcia has two prior felony convictions for assaulting a police officer and three misdemeanor convictions, prosecutors said.

In 2017, he headbutted a cop who was trying to arrest him for allegedly punching his sister.

He also has a prior conviction for criminal possession of a weapon for carrying a boxcutter. Additional charges in Garcia’s rap sheet include menacing, drug possession and robbery.