Mercy Hospital shooting

On November 19, 2018, a mass shooting took place at the Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. An attending physician at the hospital, a police officer, and a pharmacy resident were killed. The gunman, later identified as Juan Lopez, the ex-fiancé of one of the victims, later died in a shootout with other responding officers.

Mercy Hospital shooting
Part of Mass shootings in the United States
Mercy Hospital and Medical Center
LocationMercy Hospital and Medical Center,
2525 S. Michigan Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Coordinates41.8469°N 87.6228°W / 41.8469; -87.6228
DateNovember 19, 2018 (2018-11-19)
3:00 – 3:30 p.m. (CST, UTC−6)
Attack type
Mass shooting, domestic violence
Weapons9mm Glock 17[1][2]
Deaths4 (including the perpetrator)[3]
PerpetratorJuan Lopez
MotiveDomestic violence

Incident

The incident occurred between 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.[4] The incident began in the parking lot of the hospital before moving inside.[5] Police told the media that a verbal argument in the parking lot between an emergency room doctor and her ex-fiancé escalated. The doctor, identified as Tamara O'Neal, 38, was killed by the gunman in the parking lot. An eyewitness claimed that O'Neal ran over to the group for help, and was on her phone attempting to call 9-1-1, and told them that the gunman would kill her. The witness also claimed that the gunman demanded a ring from O'Neal, and returned with a gun and shot her six times when it emerged she did not have the ring.[6] Local officers have classified the killing of O'Neal as domestic violence.[7]

He continued into the hospital and shot others.[8] Police arrived and exchanged fire with the gunman, who retreated into the hospital and was pursued by officers.[9] The gunman fired about 40 shots during the shooting.[2]

A police officer was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, where he later died. He was identified as 28-year-old Samuel Jimenez. The other two victims were identified as O'Neal and 25-year-old Dayna Less, a pharmacy resident.[10] The gunman also died following the shootout with police.[2][5] The incident was the deadliest shooting at a U.S. hospital in over 20 years.[11]

At 4:40 p.m., police had secured the location and all patients were safe.[12]

Perpetrator

Local authorities identified the perpetrator as Juan Lopez, a 32-year-old male,[9] and the former fiancé of O'Neal.[13] He was discovered within the hospital at around 3:20 p.m., shot in the head.[12]

Lopez had a valid FOID (Firearm Owners Identification) card and a concealed carry gun permit. In the five years prior to the shooting, he purchased four weapons.[14]

Lopez had previously threatened to shoot up the Chicago Fire Academy after he had been terminated as a trainee there for improper conduct toward women, and aggressive and improper conduct, five years previous.[6][14] In 2014, during a separation proceedings, Lopez's wife at the time filed a petition for an order of protection against him, alleging threats and harassment by Lopez, as well as Lopez's unsafe and threatening conduct with a gun.[15]

Response

The hashtag #ThisIsOurLane was seen on social media after the shooting with multiple medical professionals rallying for support for those in the hospital, and some echoed anti-gun sentiments as well.[16] The flag of Chicago outside local police stations was lowered to half staff in honor of the killed police officer, and the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation has announced plans to aid in funeral and educational expenses for his family.[10]

References
  1. Seidel, Jon; Frank Main (November 20, 2018). "Hospital shooter's history of threats no legal hurdle to owning gun". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  2. "Gunman in Mercy Hospital shooting fired about 40 shots before dying in shootout with SWAT officer". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  3. Ray, Richard (November 19, 2018). "Chicago Officer Among 4 Dead in Shooting at Mercy Hospital". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  4. "Gunman opens fire at Chicago hospital". BBC News. November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  5. Lowe, Mike; Tom Negovan; Marcella Raymond; Patrick Elwood; Melissa Espana; Mike Ewing; Erica Demarest (November 19, 2018). "Chicago police officer, doctor, pharmacy resident dead after Mercy Hospital shooting; gunman killed". WGN-TV. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  6. Fedschun, Travis (November 20, 2018). "Chicago hospital shooting that left officer, doctor dead came after fight over ring, 'broken engagement': reports". Fox News. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  7. "Chicago hospital shooting victims mourned". BBC News. November 20, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  8. "4 Dead In Mercy Hospital Shooting After Gunman Goes On Rampage". CBS Chicago. November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  9. Grinberg, Emanuella; Sheena Jones; Ryan Young (November 20, 2018). "A police officer and 2 employees were killed in Chicago hospital shooting that left gunman dead". CNN. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  10. D'Onofrio, Jessica; Cate Cauguiran (November 20, 2018). "Mercy Hospital Chicago Shooting: Mourning 3 innocent victims, including CPD Officer Samuel Jimenez". ABC 7 Chicago. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  11. "Chicago attack among worst hospital shootings in U.S. in two decades". Chicago Tribune. November 20, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  12. Gorner, Madeline Buckley, Jeremy (November 19, 2018). "Chicago hospital shooting: Shooter dead, at least 3 others wounded, including police officer, at Mercy Hospital". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  13. "The gunman, identified to the ABC7 I-Team as Juan Lopez, 32, the former fiance of the ER doctor, was also killed. reported". ABC 7 Chicago. November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  14. Goudie, Chuck; Ross Weidner; Barb Markoff; Christine Tressel (November 20, 2018). "What we know about Mercy Hospital gunman Juan Lopez". 6 ABC. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  15. Seidel, Jon; Mitch Dudek (November 20, 2018). "Alleged hospital gunman threatened to 'cause a scene' at work of 2nd woman". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  16. Bacon, John (November 20, 2018). "Some docs rip NRA, say #ThisIsOurLane after Chicago Mercy Hospital shooting rampage". USA Today. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
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