Shooting at Wilmington Hospital Leaves One Dead, One Injured; Suspect Remains at Large

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a gunfire incident erupted inside Wilmington Hospital, a ChristianaCare facility located on the 500 block of West 14th Street in Wilmington, Delaware. Police reports indicate that two individuals were shot, one of whom later died from injuries while the other remains hospitalized. The shooter has not been identified and is currently at large, prompting a multi-agency manhunt. The hospital was placed on lockdown shortly after the shots were fired; the lockdown was lifted later that evening after law-enforcement swept the building and surrounding parking structures.

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• 3:30 p.m. – Officers respond to reports of gunfire at Wilmington Hospital.

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• Shortly after – Hospital goes into lockdown; police, FBI, Delaware State Police, and ATF arrive on scene.

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• ~4:00 p.m. – Witnesses report hearing “two loud shots, almost like firecrackers.”

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• ~4:30 p.m. – Police begin clearing rooms floor-by-floor; SWAT teams conduct a systematic sweep.

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• ~5:00 p.m. – Lockdown ends; staff and patients begin exiting the southwest entrance, many with hands raised.

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• Evening – Police chief announces that surveillance footage is under review to determine how the shooter left the premises.

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• Wilfredo Campos, Wilmington Police Chief – leads the local investigation.

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• John Carney, Mayor of Wilmington – addressed the community at a press conference.

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• Matt Meyer, Governor of Delaware – commented on the personal impact of the shooting.

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• Jenn Schwartz, incoming President and CEO of ChristianaCare – issued a statement on staff resilience.

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• Federal agencies involved include the FBI and ATF, alongside Delaware State Police and local fire services.

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Hospital guide Brian Pfeffer was in the Emergency Department when he heard the shots. He described the scene as “super intense” and said he was “kind of shaking.” Another employee reported hearing “two loud shots, almost like firecrackers,” and fled the area before the lockdown was enacted. Video from local news stations captured staff and patients exiting the building with their hands raised as police secured the perimeter.

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• Victims: 2 (1 fatality, 1 injured).

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• Location: Wilmington Hospital, ChristianaCare network.

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• Law-enforcement presence: Dozens of officers, multiple SWAT teams, FBI, ATF, and Delaware State Police.

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• Lockdown duration: Approximately 1.5 hours.

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Mayor Carney condemned the violence, emphasizing that hospitals should be sanctuaries. Police Chief Campos confirmed the suspect remains unidentified and that investigators are reviewing surveillance footage. Governor Meyer expressed personal concern, noting his wife’s employment with ChristianaCare. ChristianaCare announced the diversion of patients from the emergency department and affirmed that “all appropriate steps” were being taken to protect patients, staff, and visitors. Incoming CEO Schwartz praised the dedication of caregivers who continued to work despite the incident.

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Preliminary information from one source suggests the shooting began when a hospital employee opened fire on two coworkers, while other reports have not confirmed the shooter’s identity or relationship to the victims. The condition of the surviving victim and the exact roles of those shot (employees versus patients) have not been disclosed. Surveillance footage has not yet been released, leaving the method of the shooter’s exit uncertain.

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The attack underscores vulnerabilities in healthcare settings, prompting renewed discussions about security protocols in hospitals nationwide. The incident also impacts community confidence in public safety and may influence future resource allocation for active-shooter preparedness within medical facilities.

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• “Any violence or loss of life in our city is unacceptable. It’s particularly distressing when an incident like this occurs at a hospital whose fundamental purpose is to treat injuries and save lives. If ever there’s a place that should be a sanctuary from such violence, that is the place,” — John Carney, Mayor of Wilmington

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• “Now you have this stuff happening, so it’s scary, very scary.” — Matt Meyer, Governor of Delaware

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• “It was super intense. I'm kind of shaking,” — Brian Pfeffer, Hospital guide, Wilmington Hospital

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• “It’s truly extraordinary to see those caregivers showing up for work, and that’s what they do every day,” — Jenn Schwartz, Incoming President & CEO, ChristianaCare

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• “What we’re doing right now is actively investigating this case, and we’ll provide more information as soon as we can.” — Wilfredo Campos, Wilmington Police Chief

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Law-enforcement agencies continue to search for the suspect, reviewing surveillance footage and conducting interviews with witnesses. ChristianaCare plans to reassess its security measures and provide updates to staff and the public as the investigation progresses.

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