Resident at senior care facility, 66, kills female staff member, 47, and injures two others

Resident at senior care facility, 66, kills female staff member, 47, and injures two others before taking his own life, sparking huge police response

  • State police say three people were shot in Rhode Island Thursday morning  
  • The shooting happened Thursday at an elderly housing complex in Westerly 
  • The suspect, 66, shot two workers and a resident; all three victims are women
  • One worker, 47, died at the scene, a second victim is in a critical condition  
  • Police lifted the lockdown at 12:45 p.m. and students were dismissed early 
  • The shooting suspect is dead from a self inflicted gunshot wound, police said

A resident at a senior care facility in Rhode Island killed one female staff member and injured two others before taking his own life Thursday morning, police say. 

The suspect, 66, shot two workers – including a 47-year-old woman declared dead at the scene – at the Babcock Village apartments in Westerly. 

He left a second employee, 38, and another resident, 66, injured. All three victims are women. One is said to be in a critical condition. 

Reports of gunfire prompted Westerly public schools, Westerly Hospital and some nearby business into lockdown as a precaution Thursday morning. Police lifted the lockdown at around 12:45 p.m. 

 

State police say three people were shot in Rhode Island Thursday. The scene is pictured

Col. James Manni told The Providence Journal that the shooting happened Thursday morning at an elderly housing complex in Westerly, a town along the Connecticut state line

Col. James Manni told The Providence Journal that the shooting happened Thursday morning at an elderly housing complex in Westerly, a town along the Connecticut state line

Reports of gunfire at the Babcock Village apartments prompted Westerly public schools, Westerly Hospital and some nearby business into lockdown as a precaution

 Reports of gunfire at the Babcock Village apartments prompted Westerly public schools, Westerly Hospital and some nearby business into lockdown as a precaution

The shooting happened in Westerly, a town along the Connecticut state line

The shooting happened in Westerly, a town along the Connecticut state line

The name of the suspect and the victims has not been released but police said they located the shooter using surveillance video.

Officers confirmed the gunman was known to them.  

Emergency crews rushed to the scene at around 10:30am local time. Images from the scene show a heavy police presence surrounding the housing complex. 

Reports of gunfire at the Babcock Village apartments prompted the local hospital and at least one nearby business to also order a lockdown as a precaution. 

One local worker told NBC: ‘We heard sirens, a ton of sirens because we’re just down the street from it. So, we locked down. We have quarries and woods behind our shop, so we’re just getting ready for whatever.’

Westerly Public Schools had said on Facebook: ‘All schools remain locked down. There is no verifiable threat to any buildings.

‘We are in ongoing communication with WPD and will lift the lockdown at their direction.’

They later added: ‘Lockdown has been lifted per Westerly Police.’ 

Congressman for Rhode Island David Cicilline tweeted: ‘Closely monitoring the situation in Westerly. Keeping the victims and first responders in my thoughts.’ 

The name of the suspect and the victims has not been released but police said they located the shooter using surveillance video. Officers confirmed the gunman was known to them

 The name of the suspect and the victims has not been released but police said they located the shooter using surveillance video. Officers confirmed the gunman was known to them

The incident took place at Babcock Village in Westerly, pictured, on Thursday

The incident took place at Babcock Village in Westerly, pictured, on Thursday  

The owner of the complex, Property Advisory Group & Affordable Housing Strategies, Inc said in a statement: ‘We are shocked and saddened that this tragedy has occurred. 

‘Our priority, as always, is the safety of our residents and staff. 

‘We are working with law enforcement to address this situation, and further questions should be referred to the Westerly Police and Rhode Island State Police.’

Police held a press conference Thursday afternoon where they confirmed the gunman and one victim had died in the shooting

Police held a press conference Thursday afternoon where they confirmed the gunman and one victim had died in the shooting

Property Advisory Group & Affordable Housing Strategies, Inc said in a statement: 'We are shocked and saddened that this tragedy has occurred. Our priority, as always, is the safety of our residents and staff'

Property Advisory Group & Affordable Housing Strategies, Inc said in a statement: ‘We are shocked and saddened that this tragedy has occurred. Our priority, as always, is the safety of our residents and staff’

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk