Gunman opens fire in NYC ER waiting room

Authorities said a gunman opened fire in a New York City hospital’s emergency room, resulting in one person being shot.

Law enforcement told ABC affiliate WABC  that the incident happened Tuesday afternoon at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx.

According to NBC affiliate WRC, two men were involved in an argument with another man in the medical facility’s waiting area. The unidentified suspect then fired three shots, striking one individual in the arm. The suspect then fled the scene. 

The unidentified male victim, aged 35, was rushed into the emergency room for surgery and is expected to survive his injuries, according to WABC. 

Jacobi Medical Center went under lockdown as a precaution, though the shooting was believed to be an isolated incident, WRC reported. 

“Earlier this afternoon, an individual walked into the NYC Health + Hospital/Jacobi emergency department and shot another individual who was in the waiting room,” Jacobi Medical Center said in a statement. 

“This was a cowardly act in a space where New Yorkers come for healing and care. Our health care heroes swiftly took care of the shooting victim and took actions to protect the other patients in the waiting room. Our immediate focus is on caring for the patient and ensuring the safety of our staff. We are working closely with the NYPD as they conduct their investigation,” it added.

This incident occurred following the New York Police Department’s announcement Tuesday that police officer Wilbert Mora died after being wounded responding to a scene in Harlem on Friday. Officer Jason Rivera, 22, was also killed in the incident. 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) said Tuesday he plans to reintroduce a “modified version” of the city’s plainclothes response unit, which was dissolved in 2020 amid backlash from critics who said it singled out Black and Latino individuals.