Pennsylvania Doctor Saves Lives by Shooting Psychiatric Gunman Who Killed Caseworker
A psychiatric patient opened fire at and killed a caseworker and then grazed a psychiatrist at a suburban medical complex in Pennsylvania before the doctor pulled out his own gun and shot the assailant, preventing him from possibly killing many others.
The psychiatrist, Dr. Lee Silverman, shot the gun-wielding patient, identified as Richard Plotts, several times after he shot the caseworker in the face and fired several shots at the doctor himself at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Yeadon near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.
Guns are banned at the 204-bed community teaching hospital.
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"I believe that if the doctor did not have a firearm, (and) the doctor did not utilize the firearm, he'd be dead today, and I believe that other people in that facility would also be dead," Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan was quoted as saying.
Plotts had 39 unspent bullets on him, police said.
"When the caseworker was shot, (Silverman) crouched down behind the desk to avoid him being shot," Whelan added. "He was able to reach for his weapon, and realizing it was a life-or-death situation, was able to engage the defendant in the exchange of gunfire."
The 49-year-old gunman was not happy with the hospital's ban on guns, but it has not been established if that was the motive for the shooting, Whelan said.
Cathy Nickel, who was a neighbor of the gunman at an apartment complex in Upper Darby, was quoted as saying that she saw a caseworker move him out of the building about a year ago. "You haven't heard the end of me!" Plotts shouted while he was being taken away, according to Nickel.
The caseworker, identified as Theresa Hunt, died, was shot while she was moving Plotts to the hospital for treatment, according to police.
Silverman received a graze wound to the head, and is recuperating at home. Plotts, who was initially said to be in critical condition, got three gunshot wounds.
Plotts, if he survives, will likely be charged with murder. He had earlier attempted suicide, and had been arrested at least four times on charges of using his gun, assault and drug abuse, according to police.
"We are grateful for the efforts of the emergency responders, and we are working with the Delaware County police departments to understand fully the details of the event and to do all we can to assist those affected," the hospital said in a statement.
Allen Williams, of Upper Darby, was at the hospital at the time of the shooting and saw police officers rushing into the lobby. "They came in with guns drawn," he told Philly.com. "It was just a shock to me."
