FORT WORTH, Texas — A suspect who shot and killed two nurses was detained after he was shot by a police officer at Methodist Hospital in Dallas Saturday morning, authorities said.
In a news release Saturday afternoon, a Methodist Health System spokesperson confirmed that the suspect fatally shot two hospital employees.
“A Methodist Health System police officer arrived on the scene, confronted the suspect, and fired his weapon at the suspect, injuring him,” the hospital’s release said. “The suspect was detained, stabilized, and taken to another local hospital.”
“The Methodist Health System Family is heartbroken at the loss of two of our beloved team members,” hospital executives said in the statement. “Our entire organization is grieving this unimaginable tragedy. During this devastating time, we want to ensure our patients and employees that Methodist Dallas Medical Center is safe, and there is no ongoing threat. Our prayers are with our lost co-workers and their families, as well as our entire Methodist family. We appreciate the community’s support during this difficult time.”
According to reporting by Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV, the two victims were both nurses who were shot near the hospital’s maternity ward.
In a tweet Saturday afternoon, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said that two “healthcare heroes were shot @methodistdallas near labor and delivery this morning. The suspect was shot by officers. Please pray for the family and friends of the victims and the entire @mhshospitals team.”
The names of the victims and the suspect have not been released.
Police have not said what led to the shooting, which took place shortly after 11 a.m. at the hospital at 1441 N. Beckley Ave.
Dallas police are assisting at the scene, but the hospital has its own police department that is in charge of the investigation.
A tour of the hospital’s new Linda and Mitch Hart Breast Center for breast cancer survivors that was scheduled to start at noon Saturday has been canceled, a spokesperson for Methodist Hospital told the Dallas Morning News.
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