KANSAS CITY, MO – A troubling incident unfolded at University Health hospital on Friday morning when a patient, in the process of being discharged, managed to seize a security guard’s firearm and fired it, as confirmed by local law enforcement.
The Kansas City police received a call at 8:39 a.m. concerning a situation at the hospital, located at 2301 Holmes Street. Initially, the incident was reported as a possible “active shooter” scenario. However, by 9:25 a.m., the situation was under control, clarified Sgt. Phil DiMartino, a spokesperson for the Kansas City Police Department.
DiMartino further explained that while the incident was initially perceived as an active shooter situation, it did not meet the traditional definition of such an occurrence. The hospital’s premises were secured and the situation contained promptly.
The security guard who was shot sustained injuries, but they were not believed to be life-threatening. The patient involved in the incident was apprehended. The confrontation resulted in a single shot being fired, as confirmed by police after reviewing security camera footage.
A second security guard was able to secure the firearm during the altercation, according to a hospital spokesperson. Additional security personnel arrived swiftly, and the patient was taken into custody immediately.
Keith King, a University Health spokesperson, confirmed that the entire incident lasted less than two minutes. He praised the security team’s swift response, stating, “The security team’s fast actions created the best possible outcome keeping our staff and patients safe.”