An investigation is underway after a gunfight at a suburban Philadelphia hospital left one caseworker dead, a doctor with a bullet wound and a former patient in critical condition.
Local law enforcement commended Dr. Silverman for his actions
District Attorney Jack Whelan told reporters that caseworker Theresa Hunt accompanied patient Robert Plotts to psychiatrist Dr. Lee Silverman’s office around 2.30p.m. on July 24. Plotts opened fire soon after, shooting and killing Hunt while Dr. Silverman ducked under his desk to retrieve a gun. He shot Plotts twice in the torso.
Investigators are still trying to determine a possible motive.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the 52-year-old Dr. Silverman suffered “a graze wound to the head” during the crossfire. He has worked at the hospital for 25 years and is expected to make a full recovery.
What is not yet clear is why Dr. Silverman was armed. Plotts had a history of psychiatric issues, the Inquirer reported, and court records show a man matching his name and age with a lengthy criminal record.
But it’s not confirmed whether Dr. Silverman began carrying the weapon as a result of his experience with Plotts, Gawker reported.
The Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital has a policy barring anyone except on-duty law enforcement officers from carrying a weapon on its campus, the Associated Press reported.
Still, local law enforcement commended Dr. Silverman for his actions.
“Without that firearm, (the patient) could have went out in the hallway and just walked down the offices until he ran out of ammunition,” police chief Donald Molineux told the Associated Press.
“Without a doubt, I believe the doctor saved lives.”
Written by Tristan Bronca on July 25, 2014 for The Medical Post
