A patient at Atascadero State Hospital (ASH) was being held Thursday night at the San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of murder following the death of a fellow patient Wednesday afternoon.
Yet another patient was being held in isolation at the hospital while an investigation continued into his role in the attack, if any.
California's Department of State Hospitals says the critically injured man was found after staff received a call for help. The victim was taken to the urgent care center at ASH where he was pronounced dead around 3:01 p.m., Wednesday.
A psychiatric technician who responded to the attack was evaluated for possible back and wrist injuries at a local medical hospital.