Offender in custody; Guard’s injuries considered non-life-threatening
Evanston Hospital was placed on lockdown earlier tonight after a shooting in the hospital’s emergency room left a security guard wounded.
The offender is in custody. CBS News reported that the victim who was wounded is a security officer who engaged the offender in a struggle inside the emergency room at Endeavor Health Evanston Hospital, 2650 Ridge Ave.
He suffered what are believed to be non life-threatening injuries, police said.
There is no current threat to the public, police emphasized . The hospital was placed on lockdown.
According to police, the city’s Crisis Alternative Response Evanston (C.A.R.E.) Team came into contact with a 28-year-old male Evanston resident near the Taco Bell on the 1700 block of Sherman Avenue in downtown Evanston at approximately 7:26 p.m. He appeared to be suffering from an unknown mental health condition and agreed to be evaluated by paramedics before being voluntarily transported to Evanston Hospital, 2650 Ridge Avenue, at 7:45 p.m., police said. Upon arrival, he was brought into the Emergency Room. Evanston police officers were not dispatched and were not on scene at this time.
While nurses were assisting with the intake process, the man became agitated, prompting hospital security to enter the room to provide support, police said. The man lunged toward his belongings and produced a weapon, which was discharged. An estimated three to four shots were fired at 7:57 p.m. in a room inside the Emergency Room, police reported. As a result, a hospital security officer was shot. The victim is believed to have suffered non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Additional security personnel and a nurse assisted with placing the offender in handcuffs until the arrival of the Evanston Police Department. The hospital is currently on lockdown, and the Emergency Room is currently on bypass.
There is no threat to the public.
