Shooting at ChristianaCare Wilmington leaves 1 dead, another injured; suspect on loose

Why Should Delaware Care?
One person has died and another has been injured during a shooting at one of Delaware’s largest hospitals — a public crime that left the state’s largest city shaken.

A person opened fire at ChristianaCare’s Wilmington Hospital around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, killing one person and injuring another, according to the city’s police chief. 

Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos said during a press conference that a suspect is still at large, and police are working to confirm his identity. He said it was not immediately clear whether the victims were employees or patients at the hospital.

The identities of the victims also are being withheld for now in order to notify their families.

A visibly shaken Mayor John Carney condemned the bloodshed during the press conference.

“Any violence or loss of life in our city is unacceptable,” he said. “It’s particularly distressing when an incident like this occurs at a hospital whose fundamental purpose is to treat injuries and save lives. If ever there’s a place that should be a sanctuary from such violence, that is the place.”

ChristianaCare’s Wilmington Hospital, the second largest hospital in Delaware that sits alongside the city’s Washington Street Bridge in a sprawling tower campus, was put on lockdown after the shooting. That precaution has since been lifted.

“It’s truly extraordinary to see those caregivers showing up for work, and that’s what they do every day,” said Jenn Schwartz, the incoming president and CEO of ChristianaCare. “They care for people, they care for the community, and they’re showing up tonight to take that shift, even with what’s transpired today.”

Law enforcement swamped scene

With the location of the shooter unknown throughout the lockdown, dozens of officers from a variety of police departments responded to the scene. SWAT teams were also deployed to sweep the building.

Also arriving on the scene were federal agents from the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

A little after 5 p.m., people began walking out of the hospital’s southwest entrance, many with their hands in the air. They then congregated within the facility’s parking garage. 

Shortly thereafter, paramedics carted one patient to an awaiting ambulance. It is not immediately clear if the person was an admitted patient or a victim.

As the situation unfolded, several hospital employees and members of the public congregated around the perimeter of the hospital.

Among them were three hospital staffers who said they were taking a class to learn about active shooters when they were told to leave the building. While noting the inconceivability of the situation, they said they were directed out of the hospital through a side door exit.

Also outside the hospital was a man speaking with his wife, a ChristianaCare employee, who was still inside the main hospital building.

In an interview, the man said his wife told him the remaining employees had been shuttled into a single area, as officers went floor by floor through the building.

Campos, the Wilmington police chief, confirmed that police had swept every room in the hospital and parking garages, giving him confidence the shooter had left the scene. He added that officers were reviewing surveillance camera footage to determine how the shooter may have left the building.

When asked whether the public should feel safe following the violent episode, Campos said, “What we’re doing right now is actively investigating this case, and we’ll provide more information as soon as we can.”