Surgeon Dies After Shooting At Brigham And Women's Hospital; Suspect Found Dead

Updated January 20, 2015

Benjamin Swasey

Law enforcement officials and hospital staff are outside the Shapiro building at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston Tuesday, where a doctor was critically shot. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

A cardiac surgeon was shot inside Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital Tuesday and later succumbed to his injuries, police said, and the suspected shooter was found dead in an examination room from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"This evening, Dr. Michael J. Davidson, director of Endovascular Cardiac Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, has tragically died as a result of the gunshot wounds he sustained this morning during the shooting event at the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center," the hospital said in a statement late Tuesday.

The 44-year-old from Wellesley was shot twice, Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said in a midday news conference, before Davidson died.

Dr. Michael Davidson (Courtesy of Brigham and Women's Hospital)

"Dr. Davidson was a wonderful and inspiring cardiac surgeon who devoted his career to saving lives and improving the quality of life of every patient he cared for," the hospital statement added. "It is truly devastating that his own life was taken in this horrible manner."

Earlier Tuesday, Boston police identified the alleged shooter as Stephen Pasceri, 55, of Millbury.

Evans said the suspect asked for Davidson by name on the hospital floor.

"We know he came into the hospital, on the second floor, asking for this particular doctor," Evans said at the press briefing. "Why and for whatever reason, that's something we're looking into. But it wasn't clearly a case of a suspect coming in here, you know, just acting out."

Calls came in to police just after 11 a.m. for reports of a shooting in the hospital's Shapiro building. The building was then locked down by the hospital, before being reopened.

At the midday news conference, Brigham staff said they had trained for active shooter situations in the past.

Later in the day, some in the Boston hospital community told WBUR's Martha Bebinger that a training video they had watched had eerie similarities to the alleged circumstances of Tuesday's shooting.

Related: In Wake Of Shooting, A Look At Area Hospitals’ Safety Protocols

Our earlier updates as the story was developing:

Update at 1:20 p.m.: The shooting victim is a doctor, Boston Police Commissioner William Evans just said in a news conference. Evans said he believes the doctor, who was not further identified, was shot twice.

The man who police believe was the suspect asked for the doctor by name on the hospital floor, Evans said. The doctor was "targeted," Evans later said.

The man who police believe was the shooter was then found in an examination dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Update at 12:30 p.m.: We're awaiting a 1 p.m. news conference on the shooting.

Additionally, CommonHealth excerpts a 2013 story on staff at the Brigham preparing for an active shooter situation.

Update at 12:15 p.m.: The hospital's Shapiro Building is "no longer in lockdown," it said in a statement.

Update at 12:01 p.m.: Along with the suspect in custody, police have recovered the gun alleged to have been used in the shooting:

#BPDCommunityAlert: BPD confirming 1 person shot at BWH. Injuries life threatening.Suspect in custody.Gun recovered.Situation under control.
— Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) January 20, 2015

Update at 11:42 a.m.: The shooting victim has life-threatening injuries, Boston police just told our Newscast Unit. There's no further information at this time about the victim. Update at 11:40 a.m.: The hospital confirms:

.@BrighamWomens: confirms shooting in Shapiro Bldg., suspect apprehended, Shapiro locked down, all staff to remain in place. More info soon. — Martha Bebinger (@mbebinger) January 20, 2015
Update at 11:33 a.m.: One person was shot inside the hospital, Boston police just said. A suspect has been apprehended.
#BPDCommunityAlert: BPD confirming one person shot inside Brigham & Women's Hospital. Suspect has been located & in custody.
— Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) January 20, 2015

The situation is "under control," the police added in another tweet. Original post: A shooting has been reported at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, police have confirmed to WBUR. There is no confirmation of a shooting on the medical campus. The Massachusetts State Police said via Twitter that it is assisting Boston Police at the Brigham for the reported shooting.
MSP assisting @bostonpolice at @BrighamWomens for reported shooting. BPD is primary investigating agency. — Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) January 20, 2015
It added that there are road closures in the area.
No further information was immediately available.

This article was originally published on January 20, 2015.