Shooting aftermath provides real-life casualty scenario for Odessa hospital 13 shooting victims were transported to Medical Center Hospital

Odessa and Midland police and sheriff's deputies surround the area behind Cinergy in Odessa where one shooter who stole a mail truck 08/31/19 was detained and killed. Tim Fischer/Reporter-Telegram Odessa and Midland police and sheriff's deputies surround the area behind Cinergy in Odessa where one shooter who stole a mail truck 08/31/19 was detained and killed. Tim Fischer/Reporter-Telegram Photo: Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram Photo: Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Shooting aftermath provides real-life casualty scenario for Odessa hospital 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

ODESSA -- Saturday’s mass shooting was the event the top trauma center in the region has trained for.

Medical Center Hospital was caring for 13 of those injured in shootings across Odessa. As of the evening update, an emotional Russell Tippin, CEO of Medical Center Health System, and his team provided the status of the gunshot victims transported to the downtown hospital. The report was as follows: eight people had surgery; seven people were in critical condition, with two of those being in serious condition and one person had died. Another patient, one 17 months old, was airlifted to University Medical Center in Lubbock.

“If you are listening to my voice, grasp onto loved ones and hold onto them and pray for this town and family and victims involved,” Tippin said. “This is a scary incident, and no one is guaranteed tomorrow. Give thoughts and prayers to families and victims in this tragic incident.”

Sudip Bose, a trauma doctor with MCH -- whose medical background includes 12 years of military service and treating those injured in battles in Iraq -- said hospital officials from the surgeons to nurses to janitors trained for the mass casualty situation.

The hospital remained in a lockdown status until 10 p.m. Saturday for the safety of its employees and patients. Matt Collins, an incident commander at MCH, said the hospital remained fully staffed and had returned to regular operations.

Tippin said the hospital has staged an area onsite with grief counselors and social workers to assist families of the victims.

Collins said there’s not a need for additional blood donations at this time and those in the community wanting to help can pray for victims.

“The community needs your prayers. Victims need your prayers. Families need your prayers. The hospital staff needs your prayers,” he said.

Hospital officials did not release any names or any identifying information regarding victims at this time. Tippin said a family reunification center has been set up at the Ector County Annex Center.