Policeman and health care worker shot after mentally ill patient grabs gun
Apparently unstable suspect fired six shots from officer's holster, injuring five - including the policeman, who was shot in the arm
Four people were injured when a seemingly mentally unstable man grabbed a policeman's gun and fired six shots - apparently while the weapon was still inside the holster on the officer's waist - in a public hospital in Sheung Shui yesterday.
The policeman, 34, fell to the floor during the struggle and was shot in the arm. The suspect, thought to be a mainland illegal immigrant, also bit a sergeant on the arm, while a third officer and a healthcare assistant suffered minor injuries, said Chief Inspector Neil Whyte, of the New Territories North regional crime unit.
Last night, the constable was in stable condition in North District Hospital, where the drama had unfolded in the accident and emergency ward shortly after 12.30pm. The other three injured in the chaos were released after treatment.
"We believe, from initial examination of the holster, the six rounds were fired as the weapon was still mostly within the holster," Whyte said.
He said one of the bullets passed through the constable's right forearm as he tried to stop the attacker pulling his service revolver out of the holster on his belt. The other five bullets hit the walls.