Thursday, October 1, 2026
A Freeport man has been indicted on multiple assault charges after allegedly attacking two security officers at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre in October, leaving one of the guards — a 62-year-old retired New York City correction officer — unresponsive and on life support, Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced.
Eduard Lopez, 28, was arraigned Wednesday before Judge Colin O’Donnell on three counts of second-degree assault, a violent felony, and two counts of misdemeanor assault. O’Donnell set bail at $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or a $2.5 million partially secured bond.
Lopez is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 9. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 2⅓ to 7 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, Lopez was being treated at the hospital shortly after midnight on Oct. 16 when medical staff attempted to administer a sedative. As he became increasingly agitated, several security officers were called to assist. Donnelly said Lopez allegedly charged at the staff, punching and kicking the guards as they tried to restrain him.
One officer suffered pain to his face and body. The second guard — Gardy Coriolan — was struck in the head and body before stepping out of the room. He walked toward the nursing station, collapsed, and went into cardiac arrest, prosecutors said. Hospital personnel revived him, and he was transferred to the intensive care unit, where he remains on life support nearly two months later.
“Irate and unwilling to accept help from medical professionals, this defendant allegedly violently charged, punched, and kicked at security staff trying to restrain him so that medication could be administered,” Donnelly said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones as we prosecute this defendant.”
Lopez was arrested at the hospital the same day by Nassau County police.
The case is being handled by Assistant District Attorney Melissa Yurisak of the County Court Trial Bureau, supervised by Bureau Chief Ali Ajamu and Executive Assistant District Attorney Kevin Higgins.
Lopez is represented by attorney Jenna Spelke.
