Doctor returned fire in hospital shooting near Philadelphia

DARBY, Pa. — A doctor grazed by gunfire from a patient who had entered his office in a suburban hospital’s psychiatric unit stopped him by returning fire with his own gun and injuring him, authorities said.

Investigators believe the doctor had his own gun and acted in self-defense, District Attorney Jack Whelan said.

The patient, who had psychiatric problems, opened fire after entering the doctor’s office with a caseworker Thursday afternoon, Whelan said. The caseworker was killed. The doctor appears to have suffered only a graze wound and was expected to be released from treatment later in the day.

Authorities have not publicly identified the gunman or his two victims. The shooting suspect was in custody, police said.

The shootings occurred on the third floor of a wellness center attached to Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, just southwest of Philadelphia. The center, which does not have metal detectors, is attached to the hospital by a pedestrian bridge.

Just what led to the shooting was unknown, Whalen said. Two guns were recovered, and the shooting was still being investigated.

“The scene is secure. Everyone is safe,” Whelan told a late afternoon news conference.

The 213-bed teaching hospital is part of the Mercy Health System, a large Catholic health care network serving the region.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

A gunman opened fire inside a hospital psychiatric unit on Thursday, leaving one hospital employee dead and a second injured before being critically wounded himself, a prosecutor said.

Just what led to the shooting was unknown, but the gunman had psychiatric problems, District Attorney Jack Whalen said.

The victim who was killed was described only as a female employee. A doctor suffered a graze wound and was expected to be released from treatment later in the day, Whelan said.

The prosecutor did not say who fired the shot that wounded the gunman but said two guns were recovered. He said the shooting was still being investigated.

The shooting occurred in the wellness center at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital. The center, which does not have metal detectors, is attached to the hospital by a pedestrian bridge.

“The scene is secure. Everyone is safe,” Whelan told a late afternoon news conference.

The identities of the shooting suspect and the victims weren’t immediately released.

The 213-bed teaching hospital in Darby, just southwest of downtown Philadelphia, is part of the Mercy Health System, a large Catholic health care network serving the region.