Kansas City, Missouri – A security guard got hurt but not critically during a shooting at University Health Truman Medical Center early Friday morning.
Someone connected to the incident was caught soon after it happened at around 8:39 a.m., said Sgt. Phil DiMartino from the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.
This individual was a patient at University Health Truman Medical Center, DiMartino explained. The security guard was taking the patient outside after the patient had been let go from the hospital when something went wrong near the emergency room.
The patient managed to take the security guard’s weapon and shot once, hitting the guard, DiMartino shared.
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Before the police got there, other security staff were able to detain the patient.
“University Health is grateful to our security team following an altercation with a patient that resulted in one of our officers being shot,” the medical center said in a statement. “The team’s fast actions created the best possible outcome keeping staff and patients safe. The officer’s injuries are not life-threatening.”
KCPD said this was an isolated incident.
“All of a sudden, all these cop cars just kinda start flying down the road,” Ryan Laird, a nearby window washer who witnessed the scene, told KSHB 41 News.
“Word going around was there was an active shooter so we had to go back inside. There was a lady that was very startled. I tried to comfort her as best I could and say, ‘Hey, these are professionals and they’re handling the situation. I guarantee your daughter is safe.’ She was very worried.”
“Her daughter messaged her at the time of the incident ‘I love you, we have an active shooter.’ And she worked directly here in the emergency room. Yeah, no, it was very intense I would say for her,” he continued.
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Laird mentioned that he and others quickly moved to safety inside a building when the incident happened. The police managed to secure the area in about 15 to 20 minutes.
“I want to emphasize, yes, this was thought originally in call notes that this could be an active shooter, this was not what would you think would be a typical active shooter scene,” DiMartino said. “This was not a mass casualty incident, this wasn’t someone coming in with the intent to hurt as many people as possible.”
The area was later secured, and there’s was no ongoing danger to people around, the police spokesperson confirmed.
The reason behind the shooting still remains unknown. The investigation is ongoing. As soon as more details are available, we will update the story.
