KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A security officer was shot by a patient in the emergency room at University Health Truman Medical Center on Friday. The officer’s injuries were not life-threatening.
The incident happened just after 8:30 a.m. as Shawn R. Caskey, 40, who had been discharged from the hospital, got into an altercation with two armed security officers, reports KSHB. Prior to the incident and as he was being discharged, Caskey began acting out, allegedly because he was on a “meth bender,” reports KMBC.
As hospital staff members were waiting for Caskey to gather his belongings and put on his shoes, he ripped a computer from the wall. The two officers then tried to pin the suspect to the bed, but he was able to grab one of the officer’s guns and then shoot him, reports KSHB.
Caskey then pointed the gun at the other security officer, but that officer was able to subdue the suspect, who was then promptly taken into police custody, reports BNN.
“University Health is grateful to our security team following an altercation with a patient that resulted in one of our officers being shot,” University Health Truman 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.”
Caskey is facing first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of armed criminal action, reports Fox4KC. He’s being held in the Jackson County jail on $100,000 bond.