Man Kills 2 Employees in Dallas Hospital

Dallas, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) - Two employees, including at least one nurse, are dead and a man is in custody after shots rang out near the labor and delivery area of the Methodist Hospital in Dallas. 

Officials with the Dallas Police Department said Nestor Hernandez, 30, was arrested after the incident and was charged with capital murder after fatally shooting a hospital worker and a nurse. 

According to the arrest warrant, Hernandez was visiting the hospital Saturday to see his girlfriend give birth to their child. The girlfriend said Hernandez began "acting strangely" and accused her of cheating on him. 

Hernandez then started to search the room for others, the warrant said, and pulled out a handgun. After completing his search, he hit his girlfriend several times in the head with the gun, officials said. 

Officials said the girlfriend told police that Hernandez said things like "We are both going to die today," and "whoever comes in this room is going to die with us." 

The first person to enter that room, the warrant said, was a nurse whom Hernandez fatally shot as she walked in. When another nurse and a Methodist Hospital police officer heard the gunshot, they also entered the room. The other nurse saw the first victim's body on the floor, the warrant said, and tried to enter the room, but was fatally shot by. The hospital officer then took cover and fired on Hernandez, shooting him in the right leg, the warrant said. 

Police responded to the hospital about 11:15 a.m., and secured the shooter. He was taken to another hospital for treatment, the hospital said in a statement. 

Hernandez was charged with capital murder. Police said Hernandez was on parole for an aggravated robbery charge, and was wearing an active ankle monitor. He had been given permission to be at the hospital to be present for the birth, officials said. 

In a statement, the hospital said its focus was to ensure the hospital was a safe place to work. 

"The Methodist Health System Family is heartbroken at the loss of two of our beloved team members," Methodist Health System Executive leadership said in a statement. "Our entire organization is grieving this unimaginable tragedy. During this devastating time, we want to ensure our patients and employees that Methodist Dallas Medical Center is safe, and there is no ongoing threat. Our prayers are with our lost co-workers and their families, as well as our entire Methodist family. We appreciate the community’s support during this difficult time." 

Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia tweeted that the police department's thoughts were with those affected by the shooting.

"Our hearts @DallasPD go out to the those affected by this tragedy," Garcia tweeted. "I’m outraged along with our community, at the lack of accountability, and the travesty of the fact that under this broken system, we give violent criminals more chances, than our victims. The pendulum has swung too far." 

Dr. Serena Bumpus, RN, and CEO of the Texas Nurses Association said the incident was indicative of the rise of violence against healthcare workers.

“Our hearts are broken,” Bumpus said in a statement. “These are our colleagues and friends. The entire TNA family grieves this loss and we extend our condolences to the families and coworkers of the victims. This is unacceptable.

Bumpus cited Press Ganey reports that on average two nurses were assaulted every hour in the second quarter of 2022, or about 57 assaults per day. Incidents of workplace violence have risen across the country, but nurses have about three times the rate of violent events (12.7 per 10,000 full-time workers) than all other professions. 

“No person should fear for their life for merely going to work, especially a nurse or healthcare worker whose passion is to help others heal," she said in a statement. "We hope our legislators understand that we need to protect our healthcare workers.”

TNA, and other nursing and healthcare organizations have called for legislation that would curtail workplace violence. 

The Methodist Health System Police are investigating the shooting with the help of the Dallas Police, the hospital said. 

Because the investigation is ongoing, the hospital said it will not be releasing any further information. 

"In light of the ongoing police investigation, Methodist Health System will not be issuing further details at this time other than to confirm that the incident on October 22, 2022, did occur on the mother/baby unit," the hospital said in a statement on Sunday.

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