NEWBURGH, N.Y. — A man was fatally shot by a hospital security officer after assaulting an officer in the emergency room lobby at Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital.
Timeline and Details of the Newburgh Hospital Shooting
The Newburgh Police Department reported that on November 13, Carlos Ortiz, 45, became disorderly and pulled a fire alarm at around 11:07 p.m. This action prompted an immediate response from the City of Newburgh Fire Department, arriving before the police.
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Ortiz, allegedly armed with a knife, confronted and threatened the hospital’s staff members and attacked a security officer, reports the Mid Hudson News. During the altercation, an armed security officer fired a single shot, incapacitating Ortiz. The suspect did not survive his injuries.
A woman visitor nearby was also injured during the incident. The bullet that struck Ortiz passed through him and hit the woman in the leg. Hospital medical staff worked diligently to remove the bullet from her thigh. Fortunately, her injuries are reported to be non-life-threatening.
The woman’s son told ABC7NY that she was seated just before the shooting and had she not quickly stood up, the outcome could have been more severe.
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Issues Statement on Shooting
As of now, no charges have been filed, and the incident is under active investigation by the City of Newburgh Detective Division and the Non-Fatal Shooting Task Force.
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The hospital has not disclosed Ortiz’s reason for being at the facility but emphasized their commitment to safety.
“Our foremost responsibility is to provide a safe, secure, and healing environment for our patients, staff, and community,” a hospital spokesperson stated. “We remain steadfast in this commitment.”
The incident highlights the potential risks faced by security personnel in medical environments.
