A medical resident injured during a shooting at Bronx (N.Y.)-Lebanon Hospital Center last summer reportedly filed a lawsuit against the hospital and a firearm supplier Feb. 28, claiming the business failed to conduct an adequate background check on the shooter before selling him a weapon, according to the New York Daily News.
Justin Timperio, MD, filed the lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court Feb. 28 against the hospital and firearm supplier Upstate Guns and Ammo.
Dr. Timperio was working as a resident at Bronx-Lebanon June 30, 2017, when Henry Bello, MD, opened fire inside the facility, killing one physician and injuring six other employees before setting himself on fire and shooting himself in the head.
The lawsuit states Dr. Timperio was shot in the abdomen and right thigh, and was hospitalized from June 30, 2017, until July 21, 2017, according to the report.
Dr. Timperio claimed in the lawsuit Upstate Guns and Ammo, "in accordance with federal and New York State laws, failed to properly and thoroughly conduct a background investigation of [Dr.] Bello prior to selling [him] the ... rifle," the report states. Dr. Timperio also claimed the supplier should have contacted New York police to see if Dr. Bello had an active rifle license before selling him the weapon.
The lawsuit claims because of this, the company's sale of the rifle to Dr. Bello was "negligent" and the "proximate cause" for Dr. Timperio's injuries, according to the report.
Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center declined to comment to Becker's Hospital Review about the lawsuit.
To access the full report, click here.