Photo: Danielle M. Outlaw/Philadelphia Police/Twitter
A Philadelphia nursing assistant was shot and killed while working at Jefferson University Hospital Monday morning.
Just after midnight, a 55-year-old man, wearing scrubs — who police believe worked at the hospital — entered the 9th floor of the Center City hospital and allegedly shot a 43-year-old certified nursing assistant, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said during a press briefing, WPVIreported. The woman was pronounced dead shortly after the incident
“We don’t know if the suspect was working tonight, wedoknow he entered the hospital in scrubs and possibly accessed portions of the hospital that only employees can access,” Outlaw told reporters.
Scott Lewis/Bloomberg via Getty
Outlaw also told reporters that officials believe the slain nursing assistant was targeted, however, a motive is unclear at this time.
After the fatal shooting, police say the suspect fled the scene in a U-Hal truck. Officers were later alerted of the alleged getaway vehicle when a witness flagged down officers, telling them about a man in scrubs, waving a gun in the area, according toThe Philadelphia Inquirer.
When police located the suspect at around 1:30 a.m., Outlaw said during the press conference that that’s when the gunman allegedly began shooting at officers in a wooded area. Police then returned fired.
“The report was that there was a male in scrubs, with a weapon or a long gun, who was potentially firing rounds in the air or just had a gun,” she said during the briefing. “The male who was the shooter fired at the officers, and four of the officers returned fire.”
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“The first officer is a 30-year-old who was struck in the right elbow. He’s in critical but stable condition. The second officer is a 32-year-old who was struck in the nose who is in stable condition,” Outlaw explained, according to the ABC affiliate.
According to the commissioner, the suspect was shot in the upper body and neck and is in critical condition — but also expected to survive.
“We learned that he was wearing body armor and was carrying multiple weapons in addition to the long gun, which was believed to be an AR-15. He was also carrying some form of a handgun, a semi-automatic handgun,” Outlaw added.
“Early this morning, another active shooter took a person’s life in our city. My thoughts are with the family of the victim, and our 4 courageous@PPD16Distofficers - 2 of whom were shot and wounded while apprehending the suspect. Their selflessness and bravery saved lives,” she wrote.
source: people.com
