WILMINGTON, DE – A 23-year-old man is in custody following a fatal shooting at Wilmington Hospital on Tuesday afternoon that left one person dead, another injured, and forced terrified hospital staff to barricade themselves inside rooms.
Chaos Inside The Emergency Room
The shooting occurred around 3:30 p.m. inside the ChristianaCare-run facility. Witnesses reported hearing loud bangs on the ground floor.
“I heard two loud shots, almost like firecrackers,” said Brian Pfeffer, an ER patient guide who managed to escape before the building went into full lockdown.
As multiple agencies, including the FBI and Delaware State Police, swarmed the scene, hospital employees were forced to barricade themselves in secure rooms while tactical teams cleared the facility floor by floor.
The Casualties and Arrest
Authorities confirmed that one person was killed and a second victim was injured in the gunfire. The identity of the deceased and the medical condition of the surviving victim have not yet been released.
Following the shooting, the gunman fled the scene, prompting a massive regional manhunt. Hours later, Philadelphia police located and apprehended the 23-year-old suspect in Pennsylvania. Extradition and formal charges are currently pending.
A “Targeted” Attack
Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos stated that a preliminary investigation reveals the shooting was a “targeted, isolated incident” rather than a random act of mass violence.
Delaware officials expressed deep distress over the venue of the crime:
- Mayor John Carney noted that hospitals should be a “sanctuary from such violence.”
- Governor Matt Meyer shared a personal connection, revealing his wife works for ChristianaCare and was reporting for duty right around the time of the shooting.
The lockdown has since been lifted, and the emergency department has resumed normal operations after briefly diverting patients during the crisis.
