April 19th, 2010
06:50 PM ET

3 shot at Tennessee hospital; gunman dead

[Updated at 8:49 p.m.]

[Posted at 6:50 p.m.] A gunman shot three women outside a Knoxville, Tennessee, hospital Monday before apparently turning the gun on himself, police said.

One of the victims died from gunshot wounds at Parkwest Medical Center; the suspected gunman is also dead, said Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen.

No identities were immediately released. The two survivors were taken to the trauma center at the University of Tennessee hospital.

The women were all current or former Parkwest employees, Owen said. The hospital was locked down immediately after the afternoon shooting, but was reopened by Monday evening.

"The hospital is safe," Owen said.

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Filed under: U.S.
soundoff (12 Responses)
  1. Deborah

    My heartfelt sympathies to the survivors of this tragedy – including the family of the shooter.

    April 19, 2010 at 7:06 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Dee

    Where can we be considered safe? This is totally unbelieveable that innocent people are getting killed and/or injured. Use to be we only heard of this in the larger cities. It is now EVERYWHERE.

    April 19, 2010 at 7:38 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Symphani

    what is going on in this world?.....

    April 19, 2010 at 7:39 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Ronn

    I am so saddened at this news story. As long as the US population is a gun carrying nation like no other on earth, there will be shootings all over the towns. What is it with Americans and their firearms? You are not about to be invaded by the Canadians or the Mexicans. More people were killed by guns in Los Angeles last year than in all of Britain. Doesn't that tell you something about all that firepower?
    Also how many of you are aware that most people shot and killed by guns die at the hand of a family member? It is just human nature that when a person owns a gun, he will find some or other reason to use it.

    April 19, 2010 at 7:40 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Sandra

    What is this world coming to? Here where I live a grandson Shot and killed his grandparents on friday and ran. Then tried to return to the home like nothing happened. This has been 2 murders in less than 3 weeks in Hawkins County Tn.

    My prayers goes out to the families.

    April 19, 2010 at 9:08 pm | Report abuse |
  6. little red hen

    Hospitals have been notoriously slow to place security systems (such as coded door locks-especially in the emergency department where the nature of what comes in often VERY highly charged emotionally). The last large urban hospital where I worked put in such measures AFTER a radiology technician was stabbed by an ex-husband who just walked right in. Even in the ICUs the staff had to BEG for door locks which must be opened from the inside or by coded door locks.
    As for the gun laws, those of us who are trained and have the privilege of owning firearms as part of our 2nd Amendment rights are entitled to protect ourselves, our property and our families. One must decide whether they are willing to use deadly force in this manner first, because guns, arrows, certain types of knives, etc. are designed to KILL. And everyone who wishes to keep firearms should take a safety course (I was taught by a U.S. Army firearms instructor).
    Having said these things, country granny here keeps firearms handy to not only protect her family and property from human intruders but also poisonous snakes, rabid animals, etc.
    It is better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6...

    April 20, 2010 at 12:56 am | Report abuse |
  7. Suzanne

    Deliver us from all this Evil. Amen My condolences to all who suffer through these horrible actions of people who are mentally deranged.

    April 20, 2010 at 1:09 am | Report abuse |
  8. Lauren

    If your gonna be stupid and selfish enough to kill yourself why don't you just take yourself out and leave innocent people out of it.

    April 20, 2010 at 1:19 am | Report abuse |
  9. Adrian B

    To many weird people with guns.

    April 20, 2010 at 1:20 am | Report abuse |
  10. Kewfly

    This is the same town where the church shootings took place. You have to realize that some of the people of this area are a bit nuts and take things to the extreme. They have strong beliefs, strong religion and sometimes take it too far. My sympathies to the families and survivors.

    April 20, 2010 at 1:48 am | Report abuse |
  11. thaf

    sounds like they should do something to stop all of these wacko's from getting guns in the first place.

    April 20, 2010 at 2:04 am | Report abuse |
  12. singh

    so sad
    peace

    April 20, 2010 at 1:16 pm | Report abuse |
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