Suspect Charged in Fatal Hospital Stabbing

LONGVIEW (Staff/AP) — The suspect in a fatal stabbing Tuesday morning at Good Shepherd Medical Center has been identified. KETK reports that according to the Gregg County District Clerk’s office, Kyron Templeton, 22, was arraigned on murder charges and four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond has been set at $2.6 million. Templeton allegedly stabbed five people, including a nurse, Gail Sandidge of Longview, who later died from injuries, Tuesday morning around 7:00. One victim is reported to be in critical condition while three are said to be in good condition. Templeton’s Facebook page says he is a graduate of Longview High School and is employed by Wal-Mart.

The family of the deceased released her identity earlier. According to Sandidge’s Facebook page, she was a 1972 graduate of Henderson High School and enjoyed reading, sewing, and being with her family. Family members say they are handling it as well as they can given the situation, but feel it is too soon to make a public comment due to the sensitivity of the matter. Another hospital employee, Karen Bobo, was treated and released. Three visitors at the surgical center were also injured, one of them critically. They have been identified as Harris Teel, Teresa Allen, and Melissa Samms. Teel is reportedly in critical condition.

Longview police detained Templeton following the stabbings at a surgical unit of the hospital. CEO Steve Altmiller calls the attack an isolated incident. It occurred at the Ambulatory Surgical Center, across the street from the main hospital at the Good Shepherd complex. Officials say Templeton was at the hospital with his mother when he went on a knife-slashing rampage. According to court documents, he told officers that “they [were] trying to kill my mother.” According to hospital officials, Templeton’s mother is a patient at the hospital. .