A 72-year-old security guard, identified as J.W. Bode, was killed in an incident on Sunday night when a gunman opened fire at Integris Health Hospital in Enid. Reports from News9 indicate Bode was attempting to protect others when he was caught in the line of fire. The circumstances related to the incident began to unfold following a domestic disturbance near East Walnut Avenue and North 12th Street.
Prior to the confrontation at the hospital, Enid Police responded to the disturbance call, finding the suspect had already left the scene. Making their way to Integris Health Hospital, officers found the suspect's vehicle, said Hunter McKee, public information manager for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, to KSWO. The suspect then opened fire toward officers before entering the hospital.
The shooting inside the hospital led to multiple gunshots being fired, during which Bode was fatally shot. The perpetrator was also killed after police officers engaged and shot him, according to statements obtained by law enforcement agencies. No other police officers or individuals inside the hospital, including medical staff and patients, were injured in the shooting.
“We're very lucky and very fortunate that nobody was hit, that nobody else was hit,” McKee told KFOR, referring to the absence of additional injuries despite the gunfire inside the hospital. In a press release, Integris acknowledged and thanked local and state law enforcement for their swift response.
Counseling services are being offered to impacted staff at the hospital, which has since reopened and is fully operational. An INTEGRIS spokesperson highlighted the bravery of Officer Bode and the swift action of authorities in securing the premises and protecting those inside, as reported by News9. The investigation led by OSBI is ongoing to determine the full scope and motive behind the events.
