In Sebring, Florida, a tragic event unfolded at a hospital when a father took the life of his adult son and then his own. This sorrowful incident occurred at AdventHealth Sebring on a Thursday.
The situation began when a 66-year-old man arrived at the hospital with his son, who was experiencing some behavioral challenges. The hospital staff, recognizing the need for specialized care, admitted the son to a mental health facility within the hospital.
During the visit, the father, reportedly struggling with the situation, fired shots at the wall of the room with a handgun. Authorities believe he did this to clear the room of other people. Following this, he tragically shot his son, who was in a hospital bed, and then turned the gun on himself. Both the father and son passed away at the scene. Thankfully, no one else was harmed in this incident.
The shooting prompted the hospital to go into lockdown, and ambulances were redirected to another facility while the investigation was underway.
In response to the incident, AdventHealth Sebring issued a statement. They assured the public that all staff members were safe and unharmed. The hospital is providing mental health support and chaplain services to its staff to help them cope with the traumatic event. Additionally, staff from nearby AdventHealth facilities were brought in to support the team, allowing those who were present during the incident to take the necessary time off. The hospital also stated its cooperation with the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office in the ongoing investigation and confirmed that the Emergency Room had resumed normal operations. Lauren Rozyla, the Media Communications Manager for AdventHealth West Florida, communicated this information.