Philly police arrest suspect in Wilmington Hospital shooting that killed 1 and injured another

Police in Philadelphia have captured a man wanted in connection with a shooting inside Wilmington Hospital on Tuesday afternoon that killed one person and wounded another.

Authorities were notified of the shooting around 3:30 p.m., said Police Chief Wilfredo Campos. When officers arrived, they found two gunshot victims. Their identities have not been released to the public. A lockdown at the hospital, which is operated by ChristianaCare, has been lifted.

According to WHYY News partner 6abc, law enforcement sources said the incident began when one hospital employee shot two other employees. Police have identified the suspect as 23-year-old John Wallace-Bey of New Castle. He was arrested in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. He faces charges including murder and attempted murder.

“Regardless of what the motive in this incident might have been, there is never an excuse for violence and there is never an excuse for gun violence,” Campos said.

Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer said the shooting is “a sobering reminder that no one is immune from the devastation of gun violence,” noting it hit close to home for him and his family.

“Just a few minutes ago, I went with my wife, Lauren, who was reporting to work at ChristianaCare,” Meyer said. “What I saw were heroes going to work in that building and heroes who are involved in life-saving efforts leaving at the end of their shift. We are extremely grateful as Delawareans to the law enforcement officers, hospital security personnel, emergency responders and medical professionals whose swift action truly helped protect others from harm.”

Wilmington Mayor John Carney thanked hospital employees who continued to work on patients as the shooting unfolded and those who helped evacuate the building.

“It’s hard to imagine what they were thinking as they were barricaded in rooms across the hospital as our law enforcement teams went through and cleared each of the floors,” Carney said. “Any violence or loss of life in our city is unacceptable.”

The investigation is ongoing. Campos said police are reviewing security footage to determine how the suspect left the hospital.