The suspect who reportedly shot and wounded a man Wednesday morning at a Louisiana hospital is in custody, according to police.
BREAKING UPDATE: @ShreveportPD says the suspect in a shooting early Wednesday morning inside Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – St. Mary Medical Center is in custody. We are updating details here » https://t.co/Es3j4J7DOn
— KTAL NBC 6 News (@NBC6News) August 12, 2020
The suspect, who was identified by police as Taniel Cole, 41, was taken into custody near Meridian, Mississippi, according to reporter Mike Evans, but there was no official confirmation about the location.
#Breaking: Scanner traffic indicates Cole is in custody near Meridian. Awaiting official word.
— Mike Evans (@crabblers) August 12, 2020
Shreveport police said SWAT and hostage negotiation teams made their way to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport-St. Mary Medical Center about 5:30 a.m. local time Wednesday.
One man was shot in the leg, police spokeswoman Sgt. Angie Willhite told news outlets. She said the wound is not believed to be life-threatening.
Cole was considered armed and dangerous.
Police said they have the suspect’s vehicle at the scene of the hospital, according to the Shreveport Times.
Preliminary information indicated the suspect knew the victim, but investigators no longer believe the two had a relationship, the Shreveport Times reported. The incident is being treated as random, police told the Louisiana newspaper.
In an update about 11:30 a.m. CDT, Shreveport Police Chief Ben Raymond said the motive remains under investigation.
“So I’m not sure [at] this point if this might have been domestic-related or whether the suspect was upset at a particular individual, and whether or not the person he was originally upset with is indeed the person that got shot. There’s so many things that can happen in an environment when you have patients and hospital staff and citizens off the street, so all that will be determined during the investigation,” Raymond told the media.
At about 11 a.m. local time, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport released a statement concerning the incident:
“Today was difficult for the staff, patients and visitors at Ochsner LSU Health St. Mary Medical Center as we responded to a shooting this morning. We immediately followed our emergency and safety protocols, which included locking down the facility. One person was injured with a non-life-threatening condition. We received confirmation from the Shreveport Police Department that the perpetrator is no longer on our campus and out of the area. There is currently no danger to the staff and the hospital is resuming normal operations.”
NEW INFO: Police confirm they are treating this as an active shooter situation at St Mary’s Ocshner in SHV. They say one man shot another person and is now somewhere inside the hospital. They’ve called in hostage negotiators.
— Adria Goins (@Adria_Goins) August 12, 2020
Earlier Wednesday, Cole was inside the hospital, according to reporter Adria Goins. Hostage negotiators and Shreveport SWAT reportedly went room to room.
SHV Police say this is who they’re looking for, 41-year-old Taniel Cole. He reportedly shot a person inside St. Mary’s hospital prompting an active shooter situation. Officers say they’re searching for him inside the hospital. pic.twitter.com/bNXrlY7KVj
— Adria Goins (@Adria_Goins) August 12, 2020
The FBI and U.S. Marshals assisted in the search for the suspect, according to KTBS anchor Nate Fluharty. The medical center was not evacuated, but it was on lockdown, according to KTBS. The lockdown has been lifted.
Right now Shreveport SWAT and hostage negotiators are going room to room here at St. Mary’s Medical Center after a man inside was shot earlier this morning. The hospital was not evacuated but remains on lockdown. @KTBS pic.twitter.com/lhFDxiVrM6
— Nate Fluharty (@NateFluharty) August 12, 2020
Twenty-seven police units were at the scene, according to NBC 6 News reporter Jade Jackson.
#BREAKING - A possible active shooter is at St. Mary’s hospital. 27 police units are on scene.
— Jade Jackson (@IAMJADEJACKSON) August 12, 2020
A man shot someone in the leg that he knew. People have been evacuated. They are searching for the suspect. @JFranseenTV will be at the top of each hour with more details
Loyola College Prep was closed amid the active shooter situation, Goins reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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