KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A gunman opened fire outside a hospital Monday, killing a woman and injuring two others before committing suicide, police said.
Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen IV said all the victims were female and current or former employees of Parkwest Medical Center. The attack happened about 4:30 p.m. outside the hospital’s discharge area.
Police are still trying to determine a motive. A police spokesman said it did not appear that any of the victims were related to the suspect or that there was any connection between them. Spokesman Darrell DeBusk also said it did not appear the suspect was ever employed at the hospital.
The names of the victims and gunman weren’t released by police because the families haven’t yet been notified.
Two of the victims were taken to the trauma centre at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. A hospital spokesman declined to give their conditions, citing federal privacy laws.
The owner of a Knoxville taxi company said one of his dispatchers told him that the gunman took a cab to the hospital. Yaqub Darboe said his driver was still being questioned by police.
“All I know was the guy just called, asked for a ride to the hospital and then he took him over there, and then this incident happened,” Darboe said.