By Jeff Wardon, Jr., Assistant Editor

A fatal assault occurred between two patients at Fulton State Hospital in Fulton, Missouri, earlier this month, KOMU 8 reports. Jabril Kanatzar was charged with first degree murder and fourth degree assault in connection to the death of another patient after the alleged assault. Footage from a common room at the psychiatric hospital allegedly shows Kanatzar watching the victim for five minutes, according to court documents. This footage allegedly then shows Kanatzar approach the victim from behind, striking them in the back of the head and then stomping on their head five times after they fell to the ground. 

Another person came up to intervene in the situation, the footage shows, only for Kanatzar to allegedly strike that person and stomp on the victim’s head twice more, according to court documents. The victim was taken to the hospital in dire condition and died two days later after being taken off life support, according to KOMU 8. The police have said Kanatzar is being held in a secure facility with no bond as of January 10. 

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Violent incidents between patients can be tricky to deal with, as saying or doing the wrong thing can provoke a patient, thus putting staff and the other patient in harm’s way. De-escalation training can help inform and prepare staff for approaching these situations, though. 

NSW Health recommends these tips for de-escalating a situation when someone is angry or agitated: 

• Listen to what the issue is and what the person’s concerns are. 
• Offer reflective comments to show their concerns are heard. 
• Wait until the person has calmed down and explained how they feel. 
• Look and maintain proper eye contact to connect with the individual. 
• Incline your head slightly to show you’re listening and give a non-threatening posture. 
• Nod to confirm that you’re actively listening and understanding. 
• Express empathy to show you understand. 

However, de-escalation may not always work, which is when alerting the appropriate personnel or authorities for assistance is an option to mitigate the situation as well. 

Jeff Wardon, Jr., is the assistant editor for the facilities market.