Gunman Kills 6 in Hospital Waiting Room

Czech police say gunman killed himself
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Dec 10, 2019 4:05 AM CST
6 Killed in Mass Shooting at Czech Hospital
Police personnel and paramedics outside the Ostrava Teaching Hospital after a shooting incident in Ostava, Czech Republic, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019.   (Jaroslav Ozana/CTK via AP)

Six people were killed and three more wounded in a shooting in a hospital in the eastern Czech Republic on Tuesday, the country's prime minister says. The apparent suspect later shot himself dead as police approached his car. Prime Minister Andrej Babis told Czech public television the shooting took place around 7am in a waiting room, the AP reports. Interior Minister Jan Hamacek said police found the suspect's car and he shot himself in the head as they approached and died from his injuries about half an hour later. Hamacek said police will be investigating his motive.

"I'd l ike to assure the public that there's no danger anymore," Hamacek said. Police identified the suspect as a 42-year-old man. Several hundred police officers had launched an extensive manhunt, using two helicopters, for the suspect and his silver-gray Renault Laguna car. Regional police chief officer Tomas Kuzel said the suspect used an illegally held Czech-made 9mm gun. He said police believe the suspect acted alone. Clinic director Jiri Havrlant told media the dead were four men and two women. Another man and a woman had to be operated on, while one person was more lightly wounded. (More Czech Republic stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X