Man shoots himself Wednesday at Hendrick Health System's ER in Abilene

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A 23-year-old man who walked into the triage area of the Hendrick Medical Center emergency room and shot himself in the head Wednesday evening told the nurse on duty his blood type and that he was an organ donor before killing himself.

The shooting occurred about 8:55 p.m. in view of a handful of people in the waiting area.

Judy LaFrance, director for Hendrick Emergency Services, in a statement released Thursday said, “The entire Hendrick family grieves with all those involved in last night’s tragedy,” extending condolences to the man’s family.

“As you know, at approximately 8:55 p.m. last night, a visitor walked into our emergency department, had a brief encounter with one of our staff members and within seconds tragically shot himself,” LaFrance said. “Despite immediate medical attention, he did not survive his injury. The visitor made no open threats to any of our patients, visitors or employees.”

Rick Tomlin, Abilene Police Department spokesman, said the man was by himself and walked to the triage window before talking to the nurse.

The man was taken to a treatment room, where medical personnel attempted to save his life, Tomlin said. He was pronounced dead at 9:17 p.m.

The man's name was released but the Abilene Reporter-News, in keeping with its policy on self-inflicted deaths, is not publishing it.

On Thursday, LaFrance said Hendrick Medical Center’s security department has a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week presence in its ER, as well as throughout the entire Hendrick campus.

Security responded immediately and appropriately to last night’s events, she said “consistent with training and established protocols.”

“After securing the area and ensuring the safety of all patients, visitors and employees, our triage area was rereouted and the emergency department was placed on temporary ambulance diversion,” LaFrance said.

People in the waiting area were moved to another room, and the emergency room was closed with any incoming ambulances diverted to Hendrick's south-side emergency room.

Walk-in patients continued to be seen and treated by medical staff, she said.

Hendrick and APD chaplains, along with the hospital’s employee wellness team, arrived to support patients, employees and visitors who were directly affected.

Hendrick’s emergency department went off ambulance divert status around 11 p.m.

“It’s important for our community to know that any patient that presents to the Emergency Department is initially screened for mental wellbeing,” LaFrance said. “If during the medical evaluation and treatment a patient is determined to be an acute risk for suicide or homicide, the Betty Hardwick Center is contacted to conduct a mental health evaluation in our facility to determine the need for inpatient and/or outpatient services.”

The hospital is constantly reviewing all processes and procedures to ensure safe and effective care for our community and for our employees, she said.

“We began evaluating last night’s situation immediately,” LaFrance said.

Hendrick offers its employees debriefing and counseling sessions with trained professionals at no charge, she said.

“We began this important step in the healing process last night,” LaFrance said.

If you need help

Judy LaFrance, director for Hendrick Emergency Services, said the Regional Victims Crisis Center is available to counsel those directly affected by Wednesday night’s public suicide.

If you or someone you know needs these services, call 325-677-7895, LaFrance said.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.