Gunman Shoots Doc. In Hospital

A gunman shot and wounded a doctor at a Los Angeles-area hospital Friday, triggering an evacuation of patients and medical staff as heavily armed sheriff's deputies searched for the shooter.

A male physician was shot and was being treated inside Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Alicia Ault said. His condition was unknown, and it was unclear who was treating him.

Law enforcement officers were still searching the complex for the gunman more than three hours after the shooting, which was reported at 6:30 p.m. EDT, said sheriff's Sgt. Harry Van.

Rudy Lopez, 68, was in the emergency room when he heard commands over a loud speaker.

"I heard 'code red, code red.' They said it about five or six time," he said.

Firefighters were initially called to the 740,000-square-foot medical complex to put out a small fire, but it was extinguished by the time they arrived, county fire Inspector Roland Sprewell said. Firefighters then realized a shot had been fired and alerted law enforcement.

"There is an injury, I don't know the extent of it at this point," but there were no reports of anyone killed, Kaiser Permanente spokeswoman Socorro Serrano said. All patients were evacuated, she said.

The shooting apparently took place in the urology department, Serrano said.

The hospital employs 230 physicians and nearly 2,300 support staff.

Baldwin Park is about 15 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.