Aurora Sinai says handheld metal detector was used improperly before shooting, family of victim calls for investigation
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Family of a man shot in the Aurora Sinai emergency department Monday morning say he's currently on life support.
But according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office, 40-year-old Christopher Robinson Jr. has been pronounced dead.
The family says Robinson got to the emergency department with his mom and girlfriend around 10:30 p.m. Sunday night to have his hip pain checked out.
According to the family's attorney, the shooter was already in the emergency department when they arrived.
He tells us Robinson's mom said she saw a man in a wheelchair fire gunshots in a random act of violence. One of those shots hit Robinson in the head.
Robinson's mom also says security ran out of the room when the gunshots started.
The attorney and family are now looking into security protocols at the hospital, planning an internal investigation to find out how a gun got inside.
"In order to ensure that there is not an ongoing risk, what do we know has been done to rectify the issue?" Attorney B'Ivory LaMarr said. "What was the vulnerability that put Christopher Robinson on life support right now? What is that? The public deserves to know, this situation could have happened to anyone.”
A statement from Aurora Sinai Medical Center says in part:
"We remain heartbroken by the incident in our emergency department lobby and our thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and everyone affected, including our own dedicated care teams."
They say an internal review found their metal detector was working, but a handheld wand screening was not done appropriately, and in violation of their policy.
The hospital says those responsible are no longer with the organization.
They say they've also deployed a Firearm Detection K-9 unit and enhanced screening procedures and are implementing additional training and increasing the presence of security personnel.
