The Latest on a shooting at a Chicago hospital (all times local):

6:30 p.m.

Chicago police have secured a hospital following a shooting that left the suspected gunman dead and four others critically wounded.

Mercy Hospital & Medical Center released a statement late Monday afternoon saying police officers have secured the facility and that patients are now safe.

Witnesses say a gunman repeatedly shot a woman near a parking lot outside the building before entering the hospital and opening fire Monday afternoon .

Police say an officer and at least one hospital employee are among the four people critically wounded in the attack. Police say those patients are being treated at other hospitals.

Police say the suspected gunman is dead, but it's unclear if he took his own life or was killed by police.

Police haven't released details about the suspected gunman, the victims or a possible motive.

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5:35 p.m.

A witness says he saw a gunman repeatedly shoot a woman outside a Chicago hospital before making his way inside and opening fire.

James Gray tells KABC-TV he was inside Mercy Hospital on Monday when the shooting unfolded . He described the scene as "mass chaos."

Gray says the man was walking with a woman near a parking area when he turned and shot her in the chest multiple times. He says the man then stood over the woman and continued shooting.

Gray says the man then entered the hospital, and "just started shooting at random."

Chicago police say the suspected gunman was later killed. Police say four people were critically wounded, including a police officer and at least one hospital employee.

Police issued an earlier statement saying there were "reports of multiple victims" after shots were fired near the hospital on Chicago's South Side.

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5 p.m.

Police say the suspected gunman is dead and four people are in critical condition following a shooting at a Chicago hospital.

Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says a police officer and at least one hospital employee are among those hospitalized in critical condition following the Monday afternoon shooting at Mercy Hospital.

Guglielmi says the gunman was killed, but it's unclear if he took his own life or was killed by police.

The department issued a statement earlier on Twitter saying there were "reports of multiple victims" after shots were fired near the hospital on the city's South Side. Police are asking people to avoid the area.

A spokesman for Mayor Rahm Emanuel says the mayor and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson are monitoring the situation.

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4:15 p.m.

Chicago police say an officer has been shot during an active-shooting incident at a hospital on the city's South Side.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says the officer is in critical condition. He says one "possible offender" has also been shot, and that officers are now searching the hospital.

The department issued a statement on Twitter saying there were "reports of multiple victims" after shots were fired Monday afternoon near Mercy Hospital. Police are asking people to avoid the area. No other details were immediately released.

A message left for hospital officials wasn't immediately returned.

Television footage shows several people, including some wearing white coats, walking through a parking lot with their arms up.

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4 p.m.

Chicago police say officers are searching a hospital after a reported shooting and that one "possible offender" has been shot.

The department issued a statement on Twitter saying there are "reports of multiple victims" after shots were fired Monday afternoon near Mercy Hospital on the city's South Side.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says officers are searching the hospital. He says at least one "possible offender is shot," but no details were immediately released. Police are asking people to avoid the area.

A message left for hospital officials wasn't immediately returned.

Television footage shows several people, including some wearing white coats, walking through a parking lot with their arms up.

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3:50 p.m.

Chicago police say they are responding to a shooting near a Chicago hospital with "reports of multiple victims."

A department spokesman issued a statement on Twitter saying officers are responding after shots were fired near Mercy Hospital on the city's South Side. The department says there are "reports of multiple victims."

The police department says it didn't immediately have more details. A message left for hospital officials wasn't immediately returned.