A North Carolina resident, Kameron Gilchrist, was apprehended on September 11, nearly half a year after an unusual incident at the University of North Carolina’s REX hospital. The 25-year-old man is accused of detaching an IV from his arm and spraying blood, which was HIV-positive, at two hospital employees. The incident occurred on March 21 while Gilchrist was receiving treatment for diabetes.
Gilchrist was charged with two counts of assaulting emergency personnel. According to the arrest warrant, he allegedly removed his IV and sprayed the blood into the eyes of the two medical staff members who were performing their official duties. The warrant did not clarify whether the HIV-positive blood was Gilchrist’s or if the two hospital employees contracted HIV following the incident.
The delay in Gilchrist’s arrest was due to his ongoing medical and psychiatric treatment at the time of the incident, as explained by the Raleigh police. The police department’s statement was reported by WRAL News.
UNC Health Rex, the hospital where the incident took place, is actively collaborating with law enforcement and additional security teams to enhance safety measures. They are also pursuing charges in relevant cases of violence against their staff. This incident underscores a growing concern, as violence against hospital staff has been increasing over the past few years.
Gilchrist is currently detained on a $25,000 bond, with a court hearing scheduled for December 8. If found guilty on both counts, he could face a maximum of seven years in prison.