Patient opens fire inside ER of Chicago area hospital, injuring security guard
A patient opened fire inside a busy hospital emergency room in a northern Chicago suburb the night of June 5, striking a security guard, police reported.
The brazen shooting took place in the city of Evanston as the shooting suspect, who police identified as a 28-year-old local man, became agitated toward a hospital worker while being admitted, Evanston Police Department Comd. Scott Sophier said in a news release.
The suspect, Sophier said, began shooting inside the ER of Endeavor Health Evanston Hospital .
Evanston is in Cook County, just over 15 miles north of downtown Chicago.
No other injuries were reported.
"The security officer who was shot was last reported to be in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries," Sophier said, adding that he did not have a timeline on the guard's hospital release. "Suspect information will be released once he is officially charged."
'Three to four shots' fired inside
Prior to visiting the facility, just before 7:30 p.m. local time, police reported police came into contact with he the suspect who appeared to be suffering an unknown mental health condition near a Taco Bell on Sherman Avenue in downtown Evanston.
The man, police said, agreed to be evaluated by Evanston Fire Department paramedics and voluntarily agreed to be taken to the hospital around 7:45 p.m. where he was taken to the ER.
At some point during the intake, the agitated man lunged toward his belongings, pulled out a firearm and fired "an estimated three to four shots" at 7:57 p.m. in a room inside the ER. As a result, a hospital security officer was shot.
His condition was not immediately known on June 6, but police told Paste BN the victim apparently suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
"Additional security personnel and a nurse assisted with placing the offender in handcuffs until the arrival of the Evanston Police Department," Sophier wrote.
Hospital was placed on lockdown but police say threat is over now
As of June 6, police had not revealed the shooting suspect's name or said whether he was in custody.
The hospital was placed on lockdown, and the Emergency Room was placed on bypass after the shooting.
"The emergency department is no longer on lockdown and has come off bypass, Spencer Walrath, a hospital spokesperson told Paste BN on June 6.
"The individual was quickly apprehended and taken into custody," Walrath said. "The safety of our patients and team members is our top priority."
As of June 6, there was no threat to the public, Sophier wrote in the release.
This story has been updated to add new information.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.