Suspect at large after fatal Wilmington Hospital shooting

A gunman shot two people inside Wilmington Hospital in Delaware on Tuesday afternoon, killing one and injuring another, and remained at large as police searched the hospital campus and surrounding area, authorities said.

Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos said officers responded around 3:30 p.m. to the hospital on the 500 block of West 14th Street after reports of gunfire. Police found two people with gunshot wounds. One victim died, Campos said, while the condition of the second person was not immediately available.

Investigators were still working to identify the shooter, Campos said, and authorities said they would provide updates as more information became available. The hospital was locked down as police searched for the suspect. David Karas, chief administrative officer at the Wilmington Police Department, described the case earlier Tuesday as “an active police investigation for a possible active shooter.”

ChristianaCare, which operates Wilmington Hospital, said its emergency department diverted patients after the shooting and that the health system was taking steps to protect patients, staff and visitors.

“Our priority remains the safety and well-being of everyone on our campus and the continuity of care for our patients,” ChristianaCare said in a statement. In another statement reported by The Guardian, the health system said it was “taking all appropriate steps to ensure the safety of our patients, caregivers and visitors.”

Wilmington Police are leading the investigation with assistance from New Castle County Police and Delaware State Police, Karas said. The FBI in Baltimore is also assisting Delaware authorities.

Brian Pfeffer, a patient guide at Wilmington Hospital, said he was in the emergency room when he heard two shots that sounded like firecrackers. He said the shots appeared to come from the ground floor, and he ran out of the hospital.

“Overwhelming emotion, just like, honestly, get out,” Pfeffer told CBS News. “I know that sounds horrible, but that’s what they train us to do — get out. Schools, hospitals, there are a lot of people who came in here to be safe, and now you have this stuff happening. It’s scary, very scary.”

Pfeffer said the shooting was frightening for everyone inside the hospital.

“I don’t have the answers, I’m not a politician, but someone needs to figure something out,” he said. “This a problem in America. You don’t hear about this anywhere else. There’s gotta be something done. I’m looking at the camera. You guys got to do something. This is unacceptable.”

Lydia Jones told CBS News her daughter works at Wilmington Hospital and that she had gone there to switch cars with her when the shooting occurred. Jones said her daughter was locked inside a room while SWAT teams searched room to room for the shooter. The two were later reunited.

“It’s very scary… it’s the world that we live in,” Jones said.

Delaware elected officials said they were monitoring the shooting and expressed concern for patients, hospital staff and first responders.

“I am aware of reports of a shooting at Wilmington Hospital,” Rep. Sarah McBride wrote on social media. “As we await more information, I’m praying for the patients and providers who were on site.”

Sen. Chris Coons said he was closely following updates. “I’m praying for everyone’s safety, including patients, health care workers, first responders, and law enforcement officers,” he wrote. “Please continue to follow updates from local officials.”

Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester said she had been briefed on the shooting. “As we wait for further information, I’m praying for our community and grateful for the swift and ongoing law enforcement response,” she wrote.

Wilmington is Delaware’s largest city, with about 71,000 residents, and is about 25 miles south of Philadelphia, The Guardian reported.