1 Dead, 1 Injured After Shooting Inside Delaware's Wilmington Hospital
A shooting inside ChristianaCare's Wilmington Hospital in Delaware on Tuesday afternoon left one person dead and another injured, triggering a hours-long lockdown before a suspect was taken into custody in Philadelphia that evening.
What Happened
Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos said officers were called to the hospital along the 500 block of West 14th Street around 3:30 p.m. on June 16 and found two gunshot victims inside the building. One of the victims died. The condition of the second victim has not been released. Neither victim has been publicly identified.
Law enforcement sources told ABC News that preliminary information indicates the incident began when one hospital employee shot two co-workers. The alleged shooter may have been a temporary employee, officials said. Police later confirmed the shooting was a "targeted, isolated incident."
Lockdown and Response
The hospital was placed on lockdown immediately following the shooting as officers from Wilmington Police, New Castle County Police, and Delaware State Police swept the building floor by floor. The FBI in Baltimore also assisted with the investigation. The lockdown was lifted after the building was cleared, and ChristianaCare said the hospital returned to full operations.
Brian Pfeffer, a patient guide who was in the emergency department when the shooting occurred, said he heard two shots that sounded like firecrackers before police arrived. "It was super intense. I'm kind of shaking," he said, adding that the incident was especially unsettling in a place where people come to feel safe. "A lot of people come here just to be safe. Now you have this stuff happening, so it's scary, very scary."
Suspect Apprehended
A 23-year-old male suspect was taken into custody in Philadelphia — roughly 40 miles northeast of Wilmington — later Tuesday night. Charges are pending and extradition to Delaware is being arranged. Police had not publicly named the suspect as of Tuesday evening.
Officials Respond
Wilmington Mayor John Carney said the shooting was a difficult day for the city and praised the law enforcement response. "It's hard to imagine what they were thinking as they were barricaded in rooms across the hospital as our law enforcement teams went through and cleared each of the floors," he said. Carney commended officers for "the bravery that they showed in the face of this unthinkable threat."
Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer noted that his wife, Dr. Lauren Meyer, had been arriving to report for work at the hospital when the attack occurred. He called the hospital's staff "heroes involved in lifesaving efforts."
ChristianaCare CEO Dr. Janice Schwartz issued a statement praising the hospital's caregivers for staying focused on patient care under extreme stress. "In the face of fear and uncertainty, our caregivers stayed focused on what matters most — caring for patients and supporting one another," she said. The health system said it had activated wellbeing and behavioral health resources to support staff in the aftermath.
The investigation remains ongoing and further details are expected to be released as the case develops.
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