Four people were killed in a shooting at a Chicago hospital, according to local media.
The scene outside Mercy Hospital. Photo: A screengrab from ABC News
Among the dead was the gunman who started shooting in the parking lot of Chicago's South Side at Mercy Hospital, and then burst into the medical facility and opened fire, local media said.
A police officer who was also among those wounded in the shooting has now died officials said.
Police cars and ambulances swarmed the hospital after the shooting.
Earlier, ABC7 Chicago and CBS Chicago, citing sources, reported that two people died in the shooting, including the gunman, and that two other people were wounded.
Police searched the hospital, said Anthony Guglielmi, a Chicago Police Department spokesperson.
The hospital said on Twitter the shooting was over and patients were safe.
A #ChicagoPolice officer has been shot in the active shooter incident at Mercy Hospital. He is in critical condition but receiving excellent care. Please send your prayers. pic.twitter.com/kFfMY1ZmF7
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) November 19, 2018
People evacuate a hospital in Chicago, where police say there are multiple victims, including a police officer, injured in a shooting. https://t.co/rQynwS67xF pic.twitter.com/f6h8LJFcYD
— ABC News (@ABC) November 19, 2018
Eyewitnesses told reporters the shooting began in the parking lot before moving into a clinic area inside the hospital.
Police have not commented on a possible motive for the shooting.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police Superintendent Eddie Johnson were on their way to University of Chicago hospital, where the wounded police officer was being treated, according to local media.
Sue Jimenez, the manager of Kozy's Cyclery bike shop near the hospital, said she heard multiple gunshots separated by pauses. At one point, she heard five shots in quick succession, she said, but the shooting stopped after police arrived.
A large number of police cars and fire engines with flashing lights could be seen outside the hospital, according to video broadcast by the NBC 5 Chicago news channel.
Police officers were seen calmly walking several people away from the hospital and onto waiting buses, per video footage broadcast by ABC7 news channel.
- Reuters
