Gunman opens fire at Tenn. hospital; kills 1, self

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A gunman opened fire outside a hospital yesterday, killing a woman and injuring two others before committing suicide, police said.

Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen IV said all the victims were female and current or former employees of Parkwest Medical Center. The attack happened about 4:30 p.m. outside the hospital's discharge area.

Police are trying to determine a motive. A police spokesman said it did not appear that any of the victims were related to the suspect or that there was any connection between them. Spokesman Darrell DeBusk also said it did not appear the suspect was ever employed at the hospital.

The names of the victims and gunman weren't released by police because the families haven't yet been notified.

Two of the victims were taken to the trauma center at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. A hospital spokesman declined to give their conditions, citing federal privacy laws.

Police put the hospital on lockdown as SWAT team members searched each floor to make sure no one else involved with the attack had made it inside.

"The hospital is safe and is being reopened with limitations," Owen said.- AP