Staff, police officer killed at hospital shooting in Chicago

A shooting yesterday at Mercy Hospital in Chicago left four people dead, including two hospital workers, a police officer and the shooter. According to city officials, the shooter was in a domestic relationship with one of the victims, whom he shot in the parking lot before entering the hospital during an exchange of gunfire with police officers. “Mercy Hospital and all other Trinity Health Hospitals regularly plan for emergencies, and last month Mercy Hospital completed an active shooter drill,” the hospital said in a statement. “All of us at Mercy Hospital and Trinity Health pray for the victims and their families.”
 
AHA Executive Vice President Maryjane Wurth, former president and CEO of the Illinois Hospital Association, said, “We are saddened by the tragic events that unfolded at Mercy Hospital and we express our condolences to the families of the victims. The women and men of America’s hospitals and health systems know very well the devastating toll that violence can have, as they are being called on to treat and care for victims of violence with increasing frequency. Unfortunately, this latest incident occurred inside the hospital and the brave women and men who come to work every day ready to care for all took action to ensure that all patients were safe. When tragedy strikes, the role of hospitals and health systems is clear: respond, treat, and be a force for good. I am proud of all the caregivers and hospital staff who care for others in the face of such violent incidents.
 
“Hospitals, like our nation, are increasingly looking for new ways to address the wave of violence that we are seeing. And, as with any other public health challenge, hospitals and health systems will remain an engaged partner in both caring for and keeping our communities safe.”