Detroit, Michigan



From the Detroit Free Press of June 14, 2004

Detroit hospital guards shoot man



Incident follows fight at party, then in ER



Sinai-Grace Hospital security guards shot and wounded a man early Sunday after a fight broke out in the hospital's emergency room, Detroit police said.



The 21-year-old Detroit man was in serious condition Sunday with gunshot wounds to his face and arm, police said.



The melee began at 6 a.m. Sunday after Curtis Cook, 37, came to the hospital after being bitten during a fight with another man at a party.



That man, Marvin O'Neil, 23, also was at the hospital on Detroit's west side, being treated for a bite from the same fight. Both men initially told police they were bitten by pit bulls.



When they saw each other in the emergency room, they started brawling and yelling at each other before security guards ejected them, said Detroit Police Sgt. Eren Stephens.



Cook fled the parking lot without paying, ramming a parking gate and driving at two security guards who had to get out of the way, police said.



Both guards fired at Cook, who had a passenger, Javon Fort, 21, with him.



Some of the shots struck Fort, police said. It was unclear which security guard was responsible.



Cook made it to West Outer Drive while Fort got out of the car for treatment. Cook then fled in a four-door, white Pontiac Bonneville. He was still at large Sunday.



Hospital spokeswoman Karen Martin said Sunday that the matter is under investigation.



"Like many other Detroit-area hospitals, this was an isolated incident, and our officers responded appropriately to the situation," Martin said in a statement. "Sinai-Grace is a safe and secure hospital. We will continue to provide compassionate, high-quality patient care to the community."



She declined to comment further.



Police questioned both guards and then released them without charges.