A man was killed and a woman was wounded in a shooting that occurred at a hospital emergency room in Tacoma, Washington on Wednesday evening, according to reports.
Law enforcement officials indicated that the attack seemed to be targeted and happened shortly after 7 PM at the Multicare Allenmore Hospital on South Union Avenue.
The female victim, who is 21, is recovering from non-life-threatening injuries, but her boyfriend was fatally shot, as detailed in the local report.
Medical personnel attempted to provide life-saving measures before he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses say that the couple had a confrontation with the shooter outside the hospital prior to the gunfire, which then followed them into the emergency room.
It’s still unclear whether that initial encounter involved physical or verbal conflict.
“I know she’s quite shaken up because her boyfriend pushed her out of the way, so she witnessed the shooting,” the female victim’s uncle shared, expressing concern for her mental and emotional well-being.
In a statement, Multicare Allenmore officials confirmed that the hospital briefly restricted access due to the incident but resumed normal operations by Thursday morning.
While the emergency department is accessible for walk-in patients, the waiting area remains closed for police inquiries.
Detectives are actively looking into the shooting and as of early Thursday, no arrests had been made.
Authorities have yet to provide details regarding the shooter’s description or the specifics of the argument that preceded the shooting.
