Police arrest suspect in shooting near hospital

A man who allegedly attempted — but ultimately failed — to shoot his wife near Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne on Monday evening has been arrested.

Melbourne police said Gavin Lancelot Chung, 49, tried to shoot his wife while she was in her vehicle in the hospital's parking lot outside the emergency room around 7:30 p.m., but missed. The bullet fired from the .40-caliber handgun missed her head, but struck her cell phone.

She was not injured in the incident and was able to flee in her vehicle until she located an ambulance nearby, according to Melbourne Police Commander Sean Riordan.

"She flagged down the ambulance," Riordan said. "They were able to call us and protect her until we got there."

A spokesperson for the Palm Bay Police Department said Chung was arrested by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office around 9:20 a.m. Tuesday.

He faces charges of attempted murder with a firearm, shooting or throwing a missile into a vehicle, battery domestic violence with aggravated assault, false imprisonment domestic violence and aggravated assault domestic violence.

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Holmes Regional was on lockdown for two hours, according to Matthew Gerrell, Vice President of Marketing & Communications with Health First.

In their parlance, the lockdown, put into effect by the hospital's administration, did not mean that the hospital was not admitting patients, Gerrell says.

"The hospital still receives and treats patients even during a lockdown," said Gerrell. "A lockdown status means only essential personnel are allowed to enter and exit the facility and everyone else is asked to stay in place. If someone does need to leave the facility during a lockdown, they would receive an escort from security to ensure their safety."

Gerrell added that the procedures implemented last night were something they practice regularly, with associates receiving training in simulated lockdowns and emergency response situations annually.

The shooting also forced a lockdown at Melbourne High School due to an event being held there. According to Brevard County Public Schools, there were no students on campus at the time of the lockdown, only parents, as some were in attendance for a soccer meeting with others there meeting about robotics. Those parents were given the option to leave campus when MPD arrived on campus and informed those on campus of the lockdown.

Previous reports of a lockdown at Keiser University were incorrect.

"Due to an incident that occurred earlier tonight, we are currently working with Melbourne Police Department to ensure the safety of our patients, guests and associates," Matthew Gerrell, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Health First, said in a release.

Holmes Regional Medical Center is located at 1350 South Hickory St.

He is currently being held in the Brevard County Jail without bond.

Anyone with information should contact Central Florida Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.