One man is dead following an officer-involved shooting April 8 at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center in Elizabeth City, N.C., according to a news release from the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office.
The shooting occurred after 1:15 a.m. in the ER triage room at the hospital, which is part of Sentara Health, based in Hampton Roads, Va.
Law enforcement from the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office and the Elizabeth City Police Department responded to a report of a man with a gun in the ER, according to the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office said that when deputies arrived at the hospital, they encountered the armed male suspect. The suspect, who has not been identified, allegedly pointed a handgun at deputies, and law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the suspect. Authorities confirmed that the suspect received medical care, but he was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.
Law enforcement said initial information from the scene indicated that the suspect entered the ER and pointed the gun at multiple ER workers.
“A security guard with Sentara attempted to subdue the suspect before law enforcement arrived,” they said, adding that the security guard was injured when the suspect hit the security guard with the gun. The security guard received treatment at the ER and is expected to fully recover, Teresa Watson, president of the facility, said in comments shared with Becker’s.
According to NBC affiliate WAVY, Ms. Watson also said a nurse who was in the room with the suspect and attempted to deescalate the situation was given the option to go home after the incident — but chose to complete her shift.
The sheriff’s office said the three deputies who fired at the suspect were not injured and are on paid administrative leave pending an investigation by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
