BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — One person is in custody after three staff members were stabbed at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center on Wednesday morning.
“It has been described — was an unprovoked attack on staff,” explained Detective Craig Macy, Chief of Detectives, Buffalo Police Department.
A 45-year-old man suffered wounds to the arm and chest, a 55-year-old man suffered wounds to the abdomen and chest, and a 52-year-old woman suffered wounds to the back and shoulder. All three victims are described as stable. One of the men's injuries was serious and he underwent surgery Wednesday.
BREAKING: 3 staff members were stabbed at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center on Richmond Ave. One person is currently in custody. This is a developing story. Updates will be posted below and on our website. @WKBW pic.twitter.com/caw2ARPorD
— Adam Campos (@arcampostv) April 3, 2024
According to officials, the incident happened at about 9:08 a.m. Wednesday in the Strozzi Building. Officials say 34-year-old Calvin Haskins, a patient of the Psychiatric Center, was taken into custody without incident shortly after. Investigators said he used a hunting knife to attack the three employees.
“Inside officers located three stabbing victims in the main residential building, which is also known as the Strozzi Building,” described Detective Macy.
When 7 News arrived at the scene rescuers were taking the three victims out of the building on Forest Avenue.
Macy says officers took Haskins into custody without any trouble. How was he able to get the knife he used remains a question for investigators.
“This area of the complex is not a guarded area, as far as having to go through metal detectors. There is people that come in and out of there, so there is no screening process for weapons and they were stabbed with a knife,” said Macy.
Haskins was charged with three counts of first-degree assault and one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was arraigned in Buffalo City Court Wednesday afternoon.
“He will be on constant watch in Buffalo Police lockup,” replied Macy.
Haskins has a criminal history. In 2013, he was charged with attempted murder after police say he stabbed a man 17 times at a Metro Rail Station in downtown Buffalo. He pleaded "not responsible" because of his mental state, which is why he was at the psych center in the first place.
Watch BPD provide update on Buffalo Psychiatric Center stabbing below:
The New York State Office of Mental Health released the following statement regarding the stabbing:
“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 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."
Watch initial reporting from 7 News reporter Adam Campos below:
