Scott LoBaido remains in critical condition after cardiac arrest

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Staten Island artist and activist Scott LoBaido remains in critical condition following a medical emergency at the NYPD’s National Night Out Against Crime event Tuesday in Midland Beach.

A spokesperson from Northwell Staten Island University Hospital said Wednesday morning that LoBaido was in critical but stable condition. The message comes about 12 hours after the hospital confirmed he experienced cardiac arrest.

Medical emergency during Midland Beach event

On Tuesday evening, an FDNY spokesperson told the Advance/SILive.com they received a call of a person in cardiac arrest just before 7 p.m. near where the NYPD event was happening.

Witnesses reported emergency personnel immediately rushing to LoBaido’s aid, performing CPR and using a defibrillator.

According to a bystander who witnessed the incident and requested anonymity, LoBaido attended the event with a group, intending to question Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who appeared at the gathering.

Hours before the event, LoBaido, 61, posted a video on Facebook in which he took issue, in part, with Mamdani’s decision to discontinue a plan to hire 5,000 new NYPD officers.

He said Mamdani planned to show up to National Night Out after “humiliating” police officers and putting their “lives in danger.”

According Mamdani’s public schedule Tuesday, he was planning on presenting proclamations to the 120th, 121st, 122nd and 123rd Precincts on Staten Island.

As the mayor left the stage, LoBaido tried to approach him but was kept back by police officers assigned to the event, according to the eyewitness.

A short time later, according to the witness, LoBaido said he was not feeling well.

“He said, ‘I’m not feeling well. I need to sit down,’” the witness recalled. “He went down on one knee and then just went straight back onto his back.”

Nearby emergency personnel immediately rushed to LoBaido’s aid and began performing CPR, according to multiple accounts.

S.I. community shares blessings for Scott

After the incident, some prominent Staten Island leaders sent well-wishes for LoBaido’s recovery.

“Praying for my friend Scott LoBaido, who suffered an apparent medical emergency tonight at National Night Out in Midland Beach,” Councilmember Frank Morano wrote in a social media post Tuesday night.

“I’m told he’s receiving excellent care. Hoping he’s back making art and giving the radical Left a hard time soon,” Morano continued.

“We heard that our good friend Scott LoBaido suffered a medical incident tonight. Mary Pat, I, and our entire family, are praying for him and his family,” Borough President Vito Fossella wrote on Facebook. “We are glad he is on the road to recovery. Scott, we are all pulling for you. Stay strong.”

Later on Tuesday night, LoBaido appeared to be in good spirits, sharing a photo to social media from his hospital bed.

The photo — where he is giving the middle finger to the camera with the caption “Posting for a friend…”— had garnered thousands of comments from supporters by Wednesday morning.

Patriotic artist, one of S.I.’s loudest voices

LoBaido, of Dongan Hills, has become known over the years for his patriotic artwork and public displays supporting veterans, first responders and the American flag.

He is also known for political demonstrations over issues including the COVID-19 mandates, speed cameras and emergency migrant shelters on Staten Island.