A police officer cordons off streets around the Shapiro Center with yellow police tape shortly before noon. (DAVID L. RYAN/GLOBE STAFF)
A cardiologist at the Boston Brigham and Women’s hospital is in critical condition Tuesday after he was shot twice by a gunman, who police say is now dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police say he shot himself in a nearby exam room, but would not release the identities of the gunman or the victim. The victim was rushed to the emergency room where he was treated for his life-threatening injuries.
Investigators found the body of a deceased man who matched the suspect’s description in an exam room in the hospital’s Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Center. The suspect had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound and a gun was found next to the body.
The Boston Police Department are taking the lead in the investigation, with the Massachusetts State Police saying they were assisting only. Boston PD says the situation is under control, and at a press conference suggested the suspect targeted this particular doctor, but offered no reason.
“We know he came into the hospital on the second floor, asking for this particular doctor,” Police Commissioner William B. Evans said. “There was a particular reason he targeted this doctor. Why? We don’t know why. Right now we’re looking into the possible motive of it.”
The police and hospital are crediting the rapid police and staff response for limiting further damage and potentially saving the doctor’s life, though he remains in critical condition.
“I am extremely proud of the way our staff responded,’’ said hospital president Dr. Elizabeth Nabel, adding that the “calm, rapid response” by staff stabilized the victim and quickly transported him to the emergency room.
“We had a very tragic situation here this morning,’’ Nabel said. “I want to thank the Boston Police Department for doing an extraordinary job of responding rapidly.”
