Jordan Ellis
On November 19, 2018, a shooting incident occurred at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, leaving four people dead, including the gunman. The perpetrator was identified as Juan Lopez, the ex-fiancé of one of the victims, Dr. Tamara O'Neal, an emergency room physician at the hospital. Lopez shot O'Neal in the hospital's parking lot before entering the hospital and continuing to fire, resulting in the deaths of a police officer, Samuel Jimenez, and a pharmacy resident, Dayna Less.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | November 19, 2018 |
| Time | Between 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. |
| Location | Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois |
| Gunman | Juan Lopez |
| Gunman's age | 32 years old |
| Victims | Dr. Tamara O'Neal, Chicago Police Officer Samuel Jimenez, Pharmacy Resident Dayna Less |
| Number of victims | 4 dead, including the gunman |
| Gunman's motive | Demanded an engagement ring from his ex-fiancé, Dr. Tamara O'Neal |
| Gunman's occupation | Associate program specialist at the Chicago Housing Authority, Graduate student at DePaul University |
| Gunman's history | History of domestic issues, workplace violence, and child support issues |
| Weapons used | The gunman fired about 40 shots |
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What You'll Learn
Gunman Juan Lopez's history and motives
On November 19, 2018, 32-year-old Juan Lopez opened fire at the Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Four people were killed in the shooting, including Lopez himself, Chicago police officer Samuel Jimenez, ER doctor Tamara O'Neal, and pharmacy resident Dayna Less.
Lopez was the ex-fiancé of O'Neal, and the shooting was sparked by a confrontation between the two in the hospital parking lot. O'Neal had recently ended their engagement, and Lopez had come to the hospital to retrieve the engagement ring he had given her. When a friend of O'Neal's tried to intervene, Lopez pulled out a gun and shot O'Neal multiple times. He then entered the hospital and continued firing, shooting Less and exchanging gunfire with responding officers, including Jimenez.
Lopez had a history of unstable behaviour and violent tendencies. He had been terminated from the Chicago Fire Academy in 2014 for improper conduct, including workplace violence and harassing female cadets. Additionally, his ex-wife Monica De Asa accused him of infidelity and abuse in their 2015 divorce filing. Lopez also had ongoing child support issues and struggled to maintain stable employment. He had a valid firearm owner's identification card and a concealed carry permit, and had purchased four weapons in the five years before the shooting.
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Victims: Dr Tamara O'Neal, Dayna Less, Samuel Jimenez
On November 19, 2018, a mass shooting took place at the Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, killing three people: Dr Tamara O'Neal, Dayna Less, and Samuel Jimenez. The gunman, later identified as Juan Lopez, was the ex-fiancé of Dr Tamara O'Neal, one of the victims.
Dr Tamara O'Neal was an emergency room doctor at Mercy Hospital. She was greatly concerned about the toll of gun violence. Sadly, she became a victim of gun violence herself when she was shot by her ex-fiancé, Juan Lopez. O'Neal had ended their engagement in September, and Lopez came to the hospital to take back the ring he had given her. An eyewitness claimed that O'Neal ran over to a group of people for help and was on the phone attempting to call 9-1-1, telling them that Lopez would kill her. The 38-year-old doctor was fatally shot by Lopez in the hospital parking lot.
Dayna Less was a 24-year-old pharmacy resident at Mercy Hospital. She was struck multiple times in the chest, back, and arm during the shooting. Less's father, Brian Less, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Mercy Hospital and its security firm, claiming their "systemic failures" allowed a domestic violence incident to "escalate into a triple homicide." The lawsuit alleges that security personnel failed to respond properly, as Lopez was seen loitering in the hospital lobby for 90 minutes before the shooting, and no one approached him to assess the danger he posed.
Samuel Jimenez was a 28-year-old Chicago police officer who responded to the shooting at Mercy Hospital. He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition after being shot in the neck, but he later succumbed to his injuries.
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Eyewitness accounts of the shooting
The shooting at Mercy Hospital in Chicago on November 19, 2018, left four people dead and many traumatized. The incident began in the parking lot of the hospital between 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and moved inside, with the gunman, Juan Lopez, shooting at people in the emergency room and the main lobby.
One witness, Steve White, who was in the emergency room, recounted seeing the gunman shoot a woman outside the hospital before turning his gun on the police and bursting into the lobby. "People was hollering, screaming, scared, nervous," he said, describing the chaotic scene.
Another witness, Maria Correa, recounted the terror of those inside the hospital: "One of the managers just told us to wait, because there were people outside, and they were shooting, and then all of a sudden they started screaming to get inside the offices, and to close the doors, and to keep silent, everything."
Surgery scheduler Patricia Rinella, whose office is next to the emergency room, recalled the fear and confusion of those seeking shelter: "There's about eight of us in there. There's a lot of people running through. Then we did hear 'Code Silver, active shooter in the main lobby'."
The shooting left an indelible mark on those who experienced it, with one ER tech describing the scene as "chaos," akin to "a zebra getting loose in the zoo." The accounts paint a picture of a sudden and terrifying event that upended the sense of safety within the hospital's walls.
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Police response and shootout with the gunman
On November 19, 2018, a shooting incident occurred at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, between 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The gunman, later identified as Juan Lopez, shot and killed his ex-fiancée, Dr. Tamara O'Neal, in the hospital's parking lot before entering the hospital.
As the situation escalated, law enforcement swarmed the scene. Lopez continued firing as initial responding officers gave chase, and the police exchanged gunfire with the gunman. Lopez retreated into the hospital and was pursued by officers. Hospital workers barricaded themselves behind doorways and in offices, and the hospital was partially evacuated. Lopez shot about 40 rounds during the shooting, killing a pharmacy resident, Dayna Less, and injuring a police officer, Samuel Jimenez, who later died.
During the exchange of gunfire inside the hospital, Lopez was fatally struck. It was initially unclear whether he was struck by police fire or if it was a self-inflicted gunshot. However, it was later determined that he shot himself in the head but ultimately died from a police bullet to the abdomen.
The police response to the active shooter situation at Mercy Hospital was commended for saving lives and preventing further loss of life. The hospital had also recently conducted an active shooter drill to prepare for such emergencies.
Lopez had a history of violent behaviour, including threats and harassment, and had been terminated from the Chicago Fire Academy in 2014 for improper conduct. He had a valid firearm owner's identification card and a concealed carry gun permit, and had purchased four weapons in the previous five years.
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Reactions and aftermath of the shooting
On November 19, 2018, a shooting occurred at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, resulting in the deaths of four people, including the shooter. The victims were a police officer, an attending physician, and a pharmacy resident. The gunman, identified as Juan Lopez, was the former fiancé of one of the victims, Dr. Tamara O'Neal, an emergency room physician at the hospital.
The shooting sparked a range of reactions and had several consequences in the aftermath, including:
- Shock and grief: The shooting shocked and saddened the community, with many expressing grief and condolences for the victims and their families. Samuel Jimenez, the 28-year-old police officer who lost his life, was mourned by his colleagues, who stood at attention and saluted as his body was removed from the hospital. Dr. O'Neal's friends and colleagues also mourned her loss, remembering her dedication to her work and patients.
- Criticism of gun violence and domestic abuse: The incident sparked criticism of gun violence and domestic abuse issues in the United States. The hashtag #ThisIsOurLane trended on social media, with medical professionals rallying for support and echoing anti-gun sentiments. The incident highlighted the dangers of gun violence and the need for stricter gun control measures to prevent such tragedies.
- Recognition of heroism: There was recognition and praise for the bravery and quick response of the law enforcement officers who confronted the shooter, risking their lives to protect others. Officer Samuel Jimenez was posthumously honoured for his courage and dedication to protecting the city of Chicago.
- Impact on hospital operations: The shooting disrupted hospital operations, with partial evacuations and relocations of patients from the emergency room. The hospital activated its active shooter training protocols, and staff members followed procedures to protect themselves and patients.
- Community support and assistance: In the aftermath, a Family Assistance Center was set up at a nearby high school to provide support and resources to those affected by the shooting. The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation also announced plans to assist with funeral and educational expenses for the deceased officer's family.
- Review of security measures: The shooting prompted a review of security measures at hospitals and public spaces. It raised questions about how to better protect healthcare workers and patients in the event of active shooter incidents.
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Frequently asked questions
The shooter has been identified as Juan Lopez, the ex-fiancé of one of the victims, Dr. Tamara O'Neal.
Lopez was upset that Dr. Tamara O'Neal, his former fiancé, had ended their engagement. He went to the hospital to retrieve the engagement ring he had given her.
Four people were killed, including Lopez, Dr. O'Neal, a pharmacy resident named Dayna Less, and a police officer, Samuel Jimenez.
Yes, a police officer was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition but later died. His name was Samuel Jimenez.
Lopez died following a shootout with the police. It is unclear if he was killed by police gunfire or if he died by suicide.
