CANTON, Ohio – A patient at Aultman Hospital grabbed a security officer’s gun and shot a patient care technician in the abdomen Friday night, according to Canton police reports. The victim, a 31-year-old hospital employee, was treated at the hospital and is in stable condition, officials said.
The suspect, identified as James Lee Fair, 35, was admitted to the hospital for observation around noon on Friday. Police said that Fair, exhibiting signs of emotional distress, was observed by staff pacing his room and hitting his head against the glass walls prior to the violent altercation, reports the Alliance Review.
According to the police report, the incident occurred around 8 p.m. when hospital staff, accompanied by two armed security officers, entered Fair’s private room to prevent him from injuring himself. At that point, Fair became combative and struggled with the security officers, eventually managing to grab one officer’s gun and fire a single round, hitting the victim in the abdomen.
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The patient care technician who was shot was reported to have been in stable condition following immediate medical attention, reports Fox8.
Patient Grabbed Aultman Hospital Security Officer’s Gun
The security officer involved told police that Fair “grabbed ahold of his gun” during the struggle. Efforts to maintain control of the weapon failed, resulting in the gun discharging and striking the hospital employee.
Hospital staff quickly subdued Fair and secured the weapon prior to the arrival of law enforcement. When police arrived, they found the suspect restrained on a hospital bed while demanding to be released. Officers placed Fair in handcuffs and leg restraints before escorting him to a police vehicle.
During transport to the Stark County Jail, Fair reportedly spoke incomprehensibly, yelled at no one in particular, and repeatedly hit his head against the cruiser’s plastic divider. A police officer monitored him closely to prevent further self-harm before Fair was booked into the jail.
Fair Faces Several Charges
On Monday, Fair faced a judge at the Canton Municipal Court. He is charged with one felony count of aggravated robbery and three felony counts of assault. He is currently being held on a $1 million bond.
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The case will be reviewed by a grand jury to determine potential indictments. Police confirmed that the entire incident was captured on Aultman Hospital’s video surveillance system, which will likely be a critical piece of evidence in the case.
Aultman Hospital Issues Statement on Shooting
Following the shooting, Aultman Hospital issued a public statement on their official Facebook page, emphasizing their commitment to the safety and security of their community:
“At Aultman, the safety and security of our patients, visitors, and colleagues is our highest priority. We are doing everything we can to care for a member of our Aultman family who was struck by a bullet in the line of duty at Aultman Hospital tonight. The colleague and family have reported that the colleague is in stable condition. The Emergency Department is safe and secure, and we are actively treating and accepting patients. We are working closely with the Canton Police Department to uncover all the details of what happened.”
