LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A man was shot by police inside an Elizabethtown hospital on Saturday morning, according to police.

Police responded after a report of a man firing shots inside Baptist Health Hardin around 5 a.m. Police said the man, who hasn't been identified, fired multiple shots with a handgun near the emergency room.

"I want to commend the efforts of Baptist Health Hardin security staff, they contacted an armed gunman unarmed and we're really proud of them for the job they did," said Officer Chris Denham, a spokesperson for the Elizabethtown Police Department. "We're also very proud of our officers for the response."

Police don't know how the suspect got into the hospital or why he went to the hospital. Police said the man was by himself.

"Shocked that this would happen in a place like Elizabethtown," said Leroy Embry who lives near the hospital.

Police said the suspect was airlifted to University of Louisville Hospital after being shot by an Elizabethtown Police officer. No one else was injured in the shooting. Denham said the suspect wasn't fatally wounded.

"How can we just let a guy walk in the door with a loaded weapon and open fire on people, I think maybe we should have some kind of stronger, harder security parking lot or even at the doors," Embry said.

Denham did not know how many times the officer fired his weapon at the suspect. The officer's identity hasn't been released yet. Kentucky State Police will investigate the police shooting, according to police.

"The scene is very large," Denham said. "The criminal investigation concerning the shooting at the hospital will be conducted by the Elizabethtown Police Department, any investigation concerning the officer-involved shooting will be held by the Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response team."

Denham said the officer who fired the shots at the suspect will be put on two weeks of paid administrative leave.

"That's standard protocol, that's not just for a shooting situation, that's for anytime one of our officers are engaged in a critical incident," Denham said. "That's our response." 

Baptist Health provided the following statement about the shooting:

"Early this morning police responded to an incident in the Baptist Health Hardin Emergency Department. This incident has been resolved, and patients, staff and visitors are safe. Our top priority is the safety of our patients, employees and all who walk through our doors.

While we are grateful that our staff, patients and visitors were not physically harmed, we ask the community to join us in supporting those who were involved. We wish to thank our staff and Security team for their efforts and commitment to safety, and special thanks to the Elizabethtown Police Department for their quick response and professionalism during this incident – and their continued efforts toward maintaining a safe environment at our hospital and in our community."

More Louisville Crime News:

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.