Wilmington Hospital shooting: 1 killed, 1 injured; suspect in custody: officials

WILMINGTON, DE – A shooting at Wilmington Hospital Tuesday afternoon left one person dead and another injured, according to Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos. Police say the suspect is now in custody as the investigation remains active. 

What we know:

Wilmington police were called to Wilmington Hospital in the 500 block of West 14th Street around 3:30 p.m. for a shooting inside the hospital, said Chief Campos.

Upon arrival, officers found two people with gunshot wounds. One victim died, while the other’s condition has not been released. 

In an update Tuesday night, police say the suspect, a 23-year-old man, has been taken into custody in Philadelphia, and charges and extradition to Delaware are pending. The preliminary investigation determined that this was a targeted, isolated incident, police say.

The names of the victims are being withheld out of respect for their families.

SKYFOX was live over the scene showing a heavy police response. 

The hospital was placed on lockdown during the police response, but that lockdown has since been lifted and officers are clearing the area. 

Police are working with multiple agencies, including the Delaware State Police, New Castle County Police Department, Wilmington Fire Department, Newcastle County Paramedics, the FBI, and the ATF. 

The investigation is ongoing and police say they will share more information as soon as possible.

What they’re saying:

During the presser Tuesday night, Mayor John Carney called the shooting a “senseless act of violence” and thanked first responders for their bravery. 

“Any violence or loss of life in our city is unacceptable. It’s particularly distressing when an incident like this occurs in a hospital whose fundamental purpose is to treat injuries and save lives,” said Carney. 

The hospital’s emergency response team was fully activated and staff continued to care for patients during the crisis, said Jenn Schwartz, Executive Vice President at Wilmington Hospital. 

“Every Delawarean deserves to feel safe, whether at home, at school, at work, or seeking care at a hospital. Today is a sobering reminder that no one is immune from the devastation of gun violence,” said Gov. Meyer.

“A tragedy like this is especially painful in a place devoted to care. We take our responsibility to provide a safe environment for our patients, caregivers and visitors seriously, and we will continue to work, as we do every day, closely with law enforcement and our public safety team,” said Schwartz.

The hospital is working with law enforcement and focusing on supporting caregivers and patients as they move toward reopening services and returning to normal operations.

Christiana Care released the following statement Tuesday night:

“Our community is mourning a tragic shooting that occurred earlier today at our Wilmington Hospital campus. The situation has been resolved, and the campus is now open, safe and secure with no ongoing threat to patients, caregivers or visitors.
Wilmington Hospital is open and fully operational.

We are tremendously grateful for the professionalism and courage shown by our caregivers, who continued to put our patients and community first during a difficult situation. We deeply appreciate our partners at the Wilmington Police Department, our first responders, and our ChristianaCare Public Safety team. And as always, we thank our community for patience, trust and support.”

What we don’t know:

Police have not released the names of the victims or the suspect, and the motive for the shooting remains unclear. 

The condition of the second victim has not been disclosed, and authorities have not provided details on how the suspect escaped or whether he is considered armed and dangerous.

Stay tuned at the livestream at the top of this article for LIVE updates.