Patient stabs 3 staff members at New York mental health facility

Three staff members were stabbed by a patient at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center Wednesday morning, the New York State’s Office of Mental Health said.

The stabbing happened inside the Strozzi Building of the Buffalo Psychiatric Center campus in north Buffalo, office officials said.

“Earlier today, three staff members were injured during an incident at the Strozzi Building of the Buffalo Psychiatric Center campus and we are actively assisting the Buffalo Police Department’s investigation into this matter,” the office said in a statement Wednesday. “The Office of Mental Health’s top priority is the safety of our staff and the individuals we serve, and our thoughts are with the employees who were injured and their families.”

Buffalo Police did not immediately return a message seeking further comment about the stabbing.

Suspect taken into custody

Local media outlet WIVB-TV reported that the stabbing happened shortly after 9 a.m. and that an ambulance transported the injured staff members − two men and a woman − to a hospital. One of them is believed to be seriously injured, the station reported.

The suspect, meanwhile, was taken into police custody. They were not identified.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.