Two nurses shot dead

Two Dallas hospital employees were killed Saturday in a shooting inside a hospital and the suspected gunman was shot and wounded by police, authorities said.

The CEO of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas said the suspect shot dead two maternity ward nurses.

The shooting occurred about 11 am inside Methodist Health System, according to hospital spokesperson Ryan Owens.

“A Methodist Health System Police Officer arrived on the scene, confronted the suspect, and fired his weapon at the suspect, injuring him,” Owens said in a statement.

The names of the victims were not immediately released.

The hospital system said in a statement that it was mourning the deaths.

“The Methodist Health System Family is heartbroken at the loss of two of our beloved team members,” Methodist Health System Executive leadership said in a statement. “Our entire organisation is grieving this unimaginable tragedy. During this devastating time, we want to ensure our patients and employees that Methodist Dallas Medical Center is safe, and there is no ongoing threat. Our prayers are with our lost co-workers and their families, as well as our entire Methodist family. We appreciate the community’s support during this difficult time.”

The suspect was taken to another hospital in undisclosed condition and under police custody, Owens said.

He was later identified by Dallas police as 30-year-old Nestor Hernandez. Following an investigation, Hernandez was arrested by Methodist Health police on capital murder charges. Hernandez has a criminal record and was on parole for aggravated robbery at the time of the shooting, Dallas police said. He was also wearing an ankle monitor.

Dallas mayor Eric Johnson tweeted: “Our city loves our healthcare heroes, and our residents will be there for them as we grieve and seek swift justice.”

“Our hearts are broken,” said Dr. Serena Bumpus, RN, CEO of the Texas Nurses Association told Fox News, “This is unacceptable. No person should fear for their life for merely going to work, especially a nurse or healthcare worker whose passion is to help others heal. We hope our legislators understand that we need to protect our healthcare workers.”

Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia tweeted that the Dallas Police Department’s hearts go out to those affected by the shooting, adding that he was “outraged” at the “lack of accountability” in the justice system. Garcia further said that “the fact that, under this broken system, we give violent criminals more chances than our victims” is a “travesty.” “The pendulum has swung too far,” he said.

The shooting follows hospital shootings in September in Little Rock, Arkansas, that killed a visitor and one in June in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that left four dead.

(AP)