No injuries after patient, 78, fires handgun inside Saginaw hospital
SAGINAW, MI Oct 16 2017 — Police are still piecing together what took place after a patient fired a handgun inside a third-floor room at Covenant HealthCare late Saturday night in Saginaw.
Officers from the Saginaw Police Department responded shortly before midnight Saturday, Oct. 14 to the hospital at Cooper and North Michigan avenues for a report of an active shooter.
Kristin Knoll, a spokeswoman for Covenant HealthCare, confirmed “there was an isolated incident that was quickly identified and contained.”
The elderly patient became disruptive and a security alert was issued at 11:52 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Cooper campus and security was dispatched, according to Larry Daly, a Covenant spokesman.
“While staff attempted to calm the patient, he produced a handgun from his bag and proceeded to wave it around,” said Daly. “Staff exited the room, taking the other patient in the room out to safety with them. A shot was heard, but no one was injured, and the armed patient remained in the room behind a closed door.”
A heightened security alert went out at 11:55 p.m. and police arrived less than 10 minutes later, entered the room, subdued the patient, and secured the weapon.
“At 12:47 am the police deemed the patient no longer a threat, and an “all clear” was issued,” Daly said. “There were no reported injuries. A Covenant security officer is now stationed with the patient 24/7.”
Daly noted “Actions are being taken to assist those staff and patients who were immediately affected by the incident through the Covenant Second Victim program” as well as a “thorough analysis of the incident and response is planned as part of the Covenant Culture of Safety.”
“Covenant leadership expresses deep appreciation to the clinical and security staff involved who took quick, heroic action, and to the members of the Saginaw and Michigan State Police for their fast response, and immediate command of the situation,” he said. “We are extremely thankful that no one was hurt. This incident stands as a reminder of the importance of the safety procedures and drills we perform on a regular basis.”
Michigan State Police are assisting the Saginaw Police Department with the investigation. Deputies with the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department were also dispatched to the scene.
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