A 66-year-old man is dead after he shot himself outside the University Hospital of Northern B.C. Saturday morning, according to Prince George RCMP.
The shooting happened at approximately 10 a.m. in the area of 13th Avenue and Lethbridge Street, near the hospital's emergency room, RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass said in a written statement. The man, who is not from Prince George, was pronounced dead in the hospital a short time later.
"At this time, investigators believe the gunshot wound was self-inflicted and that there are no public safety concerns," Douglass wrote. "The investigation is continuing in partnership with the BC Coroners Service."
Police cordoned off the area around the emergency room, and called in members of the RCMP police dog service and forensic identification section to assist in the investigation, Douglass wrote. In addition, police cruisers were initially set up in a perimeter on streets surrounding the hospital.
Vince Joseph was outside near the emergency room when he heard the shot.
"I heard a loud bang, because I was sitting out here having a smoke," Joseph said. "All these cops showed up. The cops ran inside with their guns drawn. They pulled their guns out before they even went in the door. It was really chaotic."
Another witness, who asked not to be named, said she had been visiting a friend in the emergency room and was just leaving when she heard the police coming in.
"All I heard was was cops running in, asking 'Where is the guy who got shot?'" she said.
The witness said she didn't hear the gunshot or see the victim coming into the emergency room.
Initial reports indicated police were called to the hospital by hospital staff.
Northern Health spokesperson Steve Raper said he couldn't confirm it was a hospital staff member who called police.
"I can confirm there was a shooting outside UNHBC," Raper said. "The ER did go into lockdown."
While the emergency room was locked down, the remainder of the hospital continued to serve patients as normal.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300.
