HIV-Positive Patient Who Used His Own Blood as a Weapon Against Hospital Staff Learns His Fate

An HIV-positive North Carolina man has been sentenced after admitting he turned his own blood into a weapon and attacked hospital workers who were trying to treat him.

According to Law & Crime, court records show that Kameron Gilchrist pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a deadly weapon after pulling an IV from his arm and intentionally spraying his blood into the eyes of two hospital employees. The incident happened in March at UNC Rex Hospital in Raleigh while Gilchrist was receiving treatment for diabetic issues.

Gilchrist, who was 25 at the time, was sentenced Thursday to 91 days in jail. He was credited for the 91 days he had already spent behind bars, effectively completing the sentence, according to court documents.

Charging documents filed with the plea agreement state that “[Gilchrist] did unlawfully and willfully assault [the hospital workers] with a bodily fluid.” The documents further describe his blood as “contain[ing] a deadly communicable disease, HIV, a deadly weapon.”

Police said the situation escalated during active medical care when Gilchrist removed the IV and directed his blood toward the victims. An arrest warrant stated that “He aimed his HIV positive blood at the victims’ eyes.” The two workers, identified as one male and one female employee, experienced irritation and were exposed to HIV, according to law enforcement. Authorities have not confirmed whether either employee contracted the virus.

Gilchrist was originally charged with felony assault on emergency personnel before reaching a plea agreement. He was not immediately taken into custody after being charged because he was receiving medical and psychiatric treatment at the time, local NBC affiliate WRAL reported.