Update: A male doctor who was shot at a Boston hospital on Tuesday morning died later that day from two gunshot wounds, according to hospital officials.
Police believe Dr. Michael Davidson, a 44-year-old heart surgeon from Wellesley, Massachusetts, was shot inside the Shapiro Building at Brigham and Women’s Hospital after an argument with the suspect, NBC News confirmed on Wednesday. Authorities said Davidson recently treated the suspect’s mother, who died.
Police identified the suspect as Stephen Pasceri, 55, of Millbury, Massachusetts. Officials believe Pasceri entered the hospital and specifically asked for the doctor by name, in retaliation for his mother’s death. Investigators believe Pasceri pulled out his firearm and shot Davidson during their meeting.
Davidson was rushed to the emergency room after allegedly being shot twice by Pasceri. Reports on Tuesday said Davidson suffered from life-threatening injuries. He died Tuesday night. He is survived by his wife and three young children.
Pasceri, who was found dead inside the hospital, had no criminal history, except for a minor alcohol infraction in the late 1970s, police told NBC.
A male doctor who was shot twice Tuesday morning inside Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital sustained life-threatening injuries, according to a hospital spokesperson. A suspect, who died from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds, had entered the hospital and asked for the doctor by name.
Just after 11 a.m. local time, Boston police received emergency calls about a shooting inside the hospital. When officials arrived on the scene, they found the suspect and a gun inside an examination room, Erin McDonough, chief communications officer at the hospital, said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon. It appeared the suspect had died from self-inflicted wounds.
A senior Boston law enforcement official later identified the victim as Dr. Michael Davidson, a heart surgeon. The official told NBC News that Dr. Davidson remains in life-threatening condition. He also noted that Brigham and Women’s had just gone through an active-shooter training in the last six months, and that the hospital’s response to the shooting was “textbook.”
The doctor’s colleagues transported him immediately to the emergency room, and hospital workers secured themselves in their offices.
Police said the shooting was targeted. Authorities are trying to determine the connection between the suspect and doctor.
Boston Police Commissioner William Evans declared the area secure by Tuesday afternoon.
BWH Security & Boston Police confirm that active shooter situation is under control. Hospital operations are back to normal.
— Brigham and Women's (@BrighamWomens) January 20, 2015
Michele Richinick