The Springfield Police Department is investigating an apparent suicide that happened Sunday morning outside of Mercy’s emergency room, 1235 E. Cherokee St.
According to SPD spokesperson Cris Swaters, officers responded around 9 a.m. to a call that a man shot himself outside the west entrance. No one else was injured.
Mercy credits SPD and the emergency department’s team with ensuring patient care and the continued operation of the department.
“The Springfield Police Department confirmed there was a suicide in front of our emergency department this morning, and our thoughts and prayers go to the individual’s family and friends,” Mercy said in a Sunday statement. “Springfield Police have been on site since the incident and worked closely with our public safety team.
The safety of our co-workers and patients is always our first priority, and we are grateful to our security team, our care providers and the Springfield Police Department for quickly securing the scene and attending to the needs of patients and co-workers in our ED.
While we are deeply saddened by the tragedy today, this is an example of how strong our team is. Amidst the heartbreak, everyone worked together to ensure patient care was not interrupted and our emergency department remained open to the public. “
