Hospital shooting: Man kills one, is shot by his psychiatrist, faces murder charge

[applegrove]

Hospital shooting: Man kills one, is shot by his psychiatrist, faces murder charge

The Associated Press

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2014/0725/Hospital-shooting-Man-kills-one-is-shot-by-his-psychiatrist-faces-murder-charge

"SNIP........................



A man who authorities say fatally shot a caseworker at a hospital complex near Philadelphia and was then shot by his psychiatrist remains listed in critical condition.

District Attorney Jack Whelan said Richard Plotts would be arraigned on a murder charge if he survived the night following Thursday's shooting.

Prosecutors did not return calls Friday morning on the status of the case.

Authorities are trying to determine more about the relationship between Dr. Lee Silverman and Plotts, including whether the doctor had reason to fear him and why he had a gun.




.........................SNIP"

[applegrove]

1. Why would someone under the care of a psychiatrist have access

to a gun and the hospital. I'm all for the psychiatrist stopping the shooter but a caseworker is dead. Surely the 'good guy with a gun' argument of the right implies that the shooter has a chance to hurt at least one person. The aim should be for nobody to die when mental health is concerned.

[Ilsa]

2. A lot of hospitals have weapons screening by

County deputies. I'm surprised he was able to enter a hospital with a gun.

[Loudly]

3. A red meat story for the gun worshippers.

Making guns scarce is the only way to go. Every other approach is a farce.

[Paladin]

6. Yeah, they're already elevating that doctor to sainthood status.

Good Guy With A Gun, don't ya know......

[Mnemosyne]

4. I don't understand why the psychiatrist didn't alert security when he first felt the need to bring a

gun, against hospital policy, into the hospital from the beginning. I thought safety overrode HIPPA law.

Then there was that guy screaming at Obama that he was the Antichrist. He seemed too close to me. I was glad he didn't pull out a gun.

[SummerSnow]

5. Hospital officials said...

he had previously complained to the caseworker about the gun policy there.


http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/shooting-hospital-philadelphia-injures-24701204



another gun worshiper thinking someone is trampling over their rights

[jimmy the one]

7. pepper spray would've likely been effective

Authorities are trying to determine why a man identified as a patient fatally shot a caseworker at a hospital complex in a Philadelphia suburb and whether a psychiatrist who pulled out his own gun and wounded the patient had concerns about him.
The psychiatrist, Dr. Lee Silverman, was grazed in the temple during the gunfight in his office with patient Richard Plotts
"When the caseworker was shot, (Silverman) crouched down behind the desk to avoid him being shot," Whelan said. "He was able to reach for his weapon, and realizing it was a life or death situation, was able to engage the defendant in the exchange of gunfire."

This most likely could have been done with pepper spray or mace, what with how it transpired, with similar results.
Tho this is one of relatively few cases where an illegal gun (the psychiatrists' since guns were disallowed where he worked) had positive effects contravening gun control efforts. Bravo to the doctor, but when compared overall with the benefits from gun control these isolated cases don't stack up well.

A struggle ensued and spilled out into the hallway, Whelan said. Another doctor and a caseworker jumped in to help Silverman and secure Plotts' weapon...

Staff members had heard loud arguing inside Silverman's office during the appointment. They opened the door and noticed the patient had a gun pointed at the doctor, so they quietly closed the door and dialed 911... Gunshots were heard a short time later, just before 2:30 p.m.

So they were alerted, & it's doubtful he could've done a massacre with people alerted so.

"Without that firearm, this guy (the patient) could have went out in the hallway and just walked down the offices until he ran out of ammunition," {police} chief said.

Conjecture, & unlikely since the staff was alerted.

[Hoyt]

8. Dumbass permitted toter tries to shoot fleeing robber in back and forces policeman to take cover.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-cops-concealed-carry-permit-holder-shoots-at-armed-robbery-suspect-20140728,0,2605611.story

"A man with a concealed carry permit shot at an armed robbery suspect who was running from a cell phone store in Crestwood, prompting an officer who was also chasing the suspect to take cover, police said."

Yeah, that's an example of a "responsible" gun toter.