St. Vincent's Hospital is operational following an early morning shooting leaving one person dead and three more, including a Birmingham Police officer, injured.

"The situation is under control and the hospital is secure and stable," said Liz Moore, Vice President of Marketing and Communications. "There are no interruptions to any patient care services at this time."

According to Sgt. Johnny Williams, public information officer for the Birmingham Police Department, officers received a call from within the hospital at approximately 4 a.m. Two officers who patrol the South precinct responded to a gunman on the fifth floor. The officers arrived through two different corridors.

The suspect used a handgun and motive for the shooting is unclear at this time, said Williams.

"They engaged the suspect as they exited the elevator," he said. "The suspect opened fire on the officer. He wounded that officer and two other employees here at the hospital. The second responding officers returned gunfire, fatally wounding the suspect."

Police will release the suspect's identity after his family is notified, according to Williams. Injuries sustained by the police officer and hospital employees are non-life threatening. The victims were taken to a different hospital for treatment, he said.

"It's a tragedy," he said. "You feel for the persons that were injured, also the staff who had to witness this incident. What we want to do and what our officers want to do was have a quick reaction."

The Alabama Bureau of Investigation will conduct a shooting investigation. The police department will also investigate through the Homicide unit and Internal Affairs.

Moore said a handful of cardiac patients and several staff members were located on the fifth floor. The hospital has been in communication with patients and their family members.

"We're notifying all patients that we had an incident," she said. "We're asking them to let us know if they have any questions, their family members as well as patients. We're communicating proactively with them."

The incident comes just one day after a mass shooting Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut that left 20 children and six adults dead.

Moore said that staff followed safety procedures and the hospital has taken additional security measurements in light of the incident.

"We review everything in great detail," she said. "We'll be relying on our experts to help make some suggestions for how we can offer a safe and secure environment for our patients and visitors."