Pennsylvania Connection To Deadly Shooting In Kabul
By Jan Carabeo
LEMOYNE, Pa. (CBS) — Cure International is a non-profit, Christian organization based in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania.
Its motto is healing the sick and proclaiming the kingdom of God.
And by many accounts that's just what one doctor who was killed Thursday had been doing for years there in Afghanistan.
Somber embraces Thursday morning outside the Lawndale Christian Health Center in Chicago as colleagues and patients of Doctor Jerry Umanos learn of the pediatrician's death.
"I know we all have a day, but to die in the way that he did, loving God's people, it was so cold," patient Stephanie Green said.
Umanos was one of three Americans shot and killed Thursday at Cure International hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Police say the attacker was actually part of the security force there meant to guard the facility.
The guard, they say, opened fire on a group of doctors.
Umanos and two other doctors, a father and son, who were visiting him, died. A nurse from the U.S. was wounded.
Cure International says the guard then shot and wounded himself.
"And the police have arrested the attacker as well. And we will investigate the motive for this attack," Afghan Interior Ministry Spokesperson Seddiq Seddiqi said.
In Lemoyne, the headquarters for Cure International reached out to the families of those killed and injured.
"Please join us in praying for the families of the victims and three affected by the shooting as well as the ongoing peace of Afghanistan," said Mark Knecht, Chief Financial Officer of Cure International.
Cure International established its hospital in Kabul in 2005 after receiving an invitation from the government.
It quickly became one of Afghanistan's leading medical institutions focusing on maternal and child health and aiming to heal patients both physically and spiritually.
"At this time were trying to help our staff process and mourn this great loss," Chief Clinical Officer Bruce Rowell said.
"We have losses a dear friend. Our clinic is grieving right now. Our hearts are broken," Chief Ministry Officer James Brooks said.
Umanos had worked at that Cure hospital for seven years.
Meanwhile the U.S. embassy in Kabul has issued this statement:
"The U.S. embassy condemns the deplorable act of violence at the cure international hospital of Kabul today ... those killed in the attack were humanitarian workers dedicated to improving the lives of Afghans by providing a full range of medical services ... this act of terror has deprived the citizens of Afghanistan of valuable medical expertise."
The identities of the two others killed and one injured have not yet been released.
