Elizabeth City native Michael Shane Clarke, 51, is idenitified as the gunman in a deadly shooting involving deputies at a hospital early Tuesday, the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.
Shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday, deputies said the Sentara Albemarle Medical Center called for help when a man entered the emergency room armed with a gun and pointed it at multiple ER personnel.
A hospital security guard tried to subdue him, investigators said, but Clarke struck the guard with the gun, injuring him.
Clarke's identity was released by PCSO officials Wednesday afternoon.
When authorities with the sheriff’s office and the Elizabeth City Police Department arrived Tuesday morning, they found Clarke in the ER triage room. Clarke “pointed the handgun at law enforcement who exchanged gunfire with the suspect,” deputies said, and was struck.
Clarke was pronounced dead at the scene.
The security guard was treated at the ER. No other injuries were reported.
During a news conference Tuesday morning, officials thanked law enforcement and staff for their quick response to the incident.
Sentara Albemarle Medical Center President Teresa Watson said the guard was unarmed at the time of the incident, but that armed guards would be something added for security in the future.
She also noted that the hospital does not have a weapon detection system at its entrance, but one will be installed at the new location, which will open in August. Watson said a request would be made to have a system installed at the current location in the meantime following Tuesday morning's incident.
"We are a safe place to give and receive care," Watson said. She also said the security guard acted quickly and was a "true hero in this story."
The three deputies who fired their weapons have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, which is standard procedure. The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation is investigating.
Reporter Ashley Van Havere contributed to this story.
