Suspect in custody after shooting at Wilmington Hospital in Delaware leaves 1 dead, 1 injured, police say

A 23-year-old man was taken into custody in Philadelphia Tuesday night in connection with the shooting at Wilmington Hospital in Delaware that left one person dead and another injured, police said.

The suspected shooter has been identified as John Wallace-Bey of New Castle, Delaware.

Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos said in a news conference Tuesday night officers responded to the shooting on the 500 block of West 14th Street at Wilmington Hospital around 3:30 p.m.

Police said they found two gunshot victims, and one of them died. The surviving victim is in "critical but stable" condition Wednesday, according to police. Both victims are 19 years old.

Campos declined to answer questions Tuesday about whether Wallace-Bey worked or used to work for the hospital.

Wallace-Bey is charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and multiple gun charges. Police said the shooting was a targeted and isolated incident.

Wilmington Hospital was on lockdown for several hours, but it has since been lifted. The campus has reopened.

ChristianaCare, which runs the hospital, said the emergency department diverted patients from the hospital when the shooting happened. 

ChristianaCare said it's working closely with law enforcement as the investigation into the shooting continues.   

"Our hearts are with the victims, their families and loved ones, and everyone affected by today's violence," Jennifer Schwartz, Esq., the incoming president and CEO of ChristianaCare, said in a statement. "This is a tragic and deeply painful moment for our community."

Employee at Wilmington Hospital says shooting sounded like firecrackers

Brian Pfeffer, a patient guide at Wilmington Hospital, was in the emergency room when the shooting happened. He said he heard two shots that sounded like firecrackers and then ran out of the hospital. 

"Overwhelming emotion, just like, honestly, get out," he said. "I know that sounds horrible, but that's what they train us to do — get out. Schools, hospitals, there are a lot of people who came in here to be safe, and now you have this stuff happening. It's scary, very scary."

Pfeffer said he heard the shots come from the ground floor of the hospital and called the shooting "scary" for everyone involved. 

"I don't have the answers, I'm not a politician, but someone needs to figure something out," he said. "This a problem in America. You don't hear about this anywhere else. There's gotta be something done. I'm looking at the camera. You guys got to do something. This is unacceptable."

Lydia Jones' daughter works at Wilmington Hospital and said she was going to switch cars with her daughter when the shooting happened.

Jones' daughter was locked inside a room at the hospital as SWAT went room to room to search for the shooter. She was eventually reunited with her daughter. 

"It's very scary ... it's the world that we live in," Jones said. 

Officials react to Wilmington Hospital shooting

Wilmington Mayor John Carney called the shooting at the hospital "senseless."

"I want to offer my thoughts and prayers for the employees at Wilmington Hospital who I know experienced a terrible day today," Carney said. "It's hard to know 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."

Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer said at Tuesday's news conference that the shooting hits him close to home because his wife works within the ChristianaCare health system. 

"Today is a sobering reminder that nobody is immune from the devastation of gun violence," Meyer said. 

Rep. Sarah McBride said she was praying for everyone at Wilmington Hospital. 

"I am aware of reports of a shooting at Wilmington Hospital," McBride wrote. "As we await more information, I'm praying for the patients and providers who were on site."

Sen. Chris Coons said Tuesday he was closely monitoring the shooting. 

"I'm praying for everyone's safety, including patients, health care workers, first responders, and law enforcement officers," Coons wrote. "Please continue to follow updates from local officials."

Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester said she was briefed on the shooting at Wilmington Hospital.

"As we wait for further information, I'm praying for our community and grateful for the swift and ongoing law enforcement response," Blunt Rochester wrote.