Security Officer Shot, Suspect Dead at Univ. of Cincinnati Medical Center

The gunman shot a security officer in the shoulder and shot at a responding police officer before turning the gun on himself.
Published: December 21, 2017

Police say a man entered a Cincinnati hospital on Wednesday afternoon and began firing two handguns, seriously injuring a security officer before taking his own life.

Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac says the man entered the psychiatric emergency services wing at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and immediately began shooting near the entrance, reports Cincinnati.com. The man struggled with a security officer and then chased the officer before shooting him in the shoulder. Security officers at the hospital do not carry a weapon.

Eyewitnesses say they counted at least eight gunshots.

“It happened that fast, like I said, I could say all… all eight shots happened within five seconds. Everything happened that fast. The response was good, they made everybody get back,” says witness Bryant Hyde.

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The hospital security officer was immediately rushed into surgery. His injuries are said to be non-life threatening.

The suspect was identified late Thursday morning as 20-year-old Isaiah Currie of Cincinnati. Police say he was not a current patient at the hospital and his motive is still known. Isaac says Currie had a criminal record, including a felony assault charge for wounding someone last month, according to The Sacramento Bee.

The shooting was initially reported as an active shooter situation, prompting a massive police response.

Officers from the University of Cincinnati Public Safety Department and the Cincinnati Police Department responded to the scene, according to News Record. Isaac says CPD officers responded to the scene within two minutes.

The suspect shot at a CPD officer responding to the incident before shooting himself. That officer was not hit and did not return fire.

The hospital was placed in lockdown following the shooting. Nearby Cincinnati Public Schools Education Center was also placed on lockdown.

Isaac says the hospital has metal detectors and security immediately knew that the suspect was armed, reports Cleveland.com.

UC Medical Center is a teaching hospital and works in conjunction with the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center.

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