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Bronx-Lebanon Hospital attack

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Coordinates: 40°50′37″N 73°54′39″W / 40.843546°N 73.910834°W / 40.843546; -73.910834
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Bronx-Lebanon Hospital attack
LocationBronx-Lebanon Hospital Center,
1650 Grand Concourse,
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Coordinates40°50′37″N 73°54′39″W / 40.843546°N 73.910834°W / 40.843546; -73.910834
DateJune 30, 2017
c. 2:45pm (EDT)
TargetHospital staff
Attack type
Weapons.223-caliber Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 semi-automatic rifle
Deaths2 (including the perpetrator)
Injured6
PerpetratorHenry Michael Bello

On June 30, 2017, at around 2:45 p.m. EDT, a doctor opened fire at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center in the Bronx, New York, United States, killing a doctor on the 17th floor and wounding six people on the 16th floor with an AR-15-type semi-automatic rifle. The shooter was later identified as 45-year-old Nigerian-born Dr. Henry Michael Bello, a family physician formerly employed by the hospital.

Background

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Dr. David Lazala, a graduate of the family medical residency program and current faculty member, told the Associated Press that he was one of the physicians training Bello, who sent Lazala a threatening email after being fired. He took Friday off and was reportedly the target of the attack. Dr. Maureen Kwankam said she fired Bello after two years of employment.[1] Kwankam further stated "We fired him because he was kind of crazy. He promised to come back and kill us then."[2]

Hours before the shooting, Bello sent an e-mail to the New York Daily News, making various accusations in regards to his firing, stating "First, I was told it was because I always kept to myself. Then it was because of an altercation with a nurse. Then I was told, it was because I threatened a colleague." Bello blamed a specific doctor for blocking his career progress and costing him $400,000.[3]

Incident

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Dr. Tracy Tam was shot and killed on the 17th floor of the hospital. Tam was randomly targeted, according to Dr. Sridhar Chilimuri, the hospital chief. Bello intended to kill the doctor who had cost him his job by accusing him of sexual harassment. Tam, who normally worked in the clinic, was asked to cover a shift of a physician who was out.[4]

Six others (three doctors, two medical students and a patient) were injured. The most seriously wounded was a doctor shot in the knee and brain, who underwent several hours of surgery on-site and was sent to Mt. Sinai Hospital for further care. The other two doctors were shot in the neck and abdomen, one student was shot in the hand and the patient had an unspecified minor injury.[5][6][7]

The New York City Police Department said Bello committed suicide after barricading himself inside with a rifle and setting himself on fire.[8]

Victims

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Tracy Tam, DO, a family medicine physician and graduate of Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, was killed.

Justin Timperio, MD, a first year family medicine resident and a graduate of the American University of the Caribbean, was shot and sustained injuries to the liver, stomach, intestines, and lung.[9] Oluwafunmike Ojewoye, MD, a second year family medicine resident and a graduate of Temple University School of Medicine sustained a neck gunshot wound.[10] A gastroenterology fellow doing a consult sustained a hand gunshot wound.[clarification needed] Two medical students from Ross University School of Medicine were shot, one to the head and knee. A patient was also injured and was listed in stable condition while the others were deceased or in critical condition. Timperio was transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital, according to his father, Luciano Timperio, an oral surgeon from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada; the senior Timperio blamed the lack of medical school positions in Ontario for his son's injuries.[11][12][13]

Perpetrator

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Bello (born Henry Williams Obotetukudo[14]) had formerly worked for the hospital.[15] He had resigned from the hospital amid a sexual harassment complaint two years prior.[16] He was a graduate of Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica and was formerly a pharmacy technician in California.[5] He worked as a night shift doctor at the hospital while trying to be admitted into the family medical residency program.

Aftermath

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Bello killed himself on the 16th floor of the hospital after the attack. In March 2018, Timperio filed a lawsuit against Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center and a gun dealer who sold Bello a modified AR-15.[17][18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Latest: Ex-colleague says hospital gunman was a problem". Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017.
  2. ^ "Bronx hospital: Ex-employee gunman 'quit after accusation'". BBC News. July 1, 2017. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  3. ^ Liddy, Tom (July 1, 2017). "Bronx hospital gunman sent email to newspaper before shooting". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  4. ^ Glorioso, Chris; Aliyu, Wale (June 30, 2017). "Doctor Killed in Shooting at Bronx Lebanon Hospital Identified: NYPD". NBC New York. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Nir, Sarah Maslin (June 30, 2017). "Doctor Opens Fire at Bronx Hospital, Killing a Doctor and Wounding 6". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "New York hospital: Ex-employee opens fire in Bronx". BBC News. June 30, 2017. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  7. ^ Mark, Michelle; Abadi, Mark (July 1, 2017). "At least 2 dead, including gunman, after shooting at New York City's Bronx-Lebanon hospital". Business Insider. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  8. ^ "Bronx hospital: Ex-employee gunman 'quit after accusation'". BBC News. June 1, 2017. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  9. ^ Fox, Chris (July 2, 2017). "One of victims in Bronx hospital shooting was raised in London". CP24. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  10. ^ Greene, Leonard (July 3, 2017). "Doctor wounded by Bronx hospital shooter staying strong during recovery". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  11. ^ Thorne, Kristin (July 2, 2017). "EXCLUSIVE: Father of Bronx hospital shooting victim speaks out". Abc7ny.com. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  12. ^ "Canadian among injured in NYC hospital shooting". CTV News. July 2, 2017. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  13. ^ Gignac, Julien (July 2, 2017). "Medical resident hurt in U.S. hospital shooting is from Ontario". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  14. ^ Foderaro, Lisa W. (July 1, 2017). "For Gunman at Bronx Hospital, Fleeting Success and Persistent Strife". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 2, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  15. ^ "New York Bronx-Lebanon Hospital shooter identified as Nigerian". Africanews. July 1, 2017. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  16. ^ Parascandola, Rocco; Goldberg, Noah; Fanelli, James (June 30, 2017). "What we know about Bronx Lebanon Hospital shooter Henry Bello". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on July 2, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  17. ^ Otterman, Sharon (March 6, 2018). "Bronx Hospital Shooting Victim Calls for Limiting Sales of AR-15s". New York Times. Archived from the original on May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  18. ^ Gignac, Julien (March 6, 2018). "Canadian injured in New York hospital shooting files lawsuit against hospital, gun shop". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
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