BOSTON (WHDH) — A Middlesex County inmate shot a Middlesex County sheriff’s deputy at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary around 12 p.m. Wednesday.
Two sheriff’s deputies were transporting the inmate, Raymond Wallace, to the hospital for treatment. A struggle ensued when the deputies were removing the inmate's handcuffs inside the emergency room. The suspect grabbed for one of the deputy’s gun. The gun never left the holster and the inmate shot the deputy in the leg. The other deputy then shot the inmate.
“The two individuals fell to the floor. A round was fired and one of the deputy sheriffs suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. At that point in time, the other sheriff apparently discharged his weapon, striking the suspect,” said Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis
Citizens in the hospital said it was a surreal scene.
“He grabbed the gun from the police officer and after we went upstairs, we seen on television he shot the sheriff in the leg and they shot the prisoner in the chest,” said Peter Miller, a witness.
Both shooting victims were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment. The deputy shot in the leg has non-life threatening injuries, according to police. The inmate is in critical condition. Witnesses said he was shot in the chest.
The Middlesex County Sheriff said in a statement, “I have spoken to the two deputies involved and their families and I am grateful that they are both safe and being well cared for after this traumatic incident.”
The incident was over in a matter of minutes but the ER was shut down for six hours after the shooting. Detectives interviewed witnesses and collected evidence and it was a frightening scene for patients who were at the hospital for medical treatment.
“I just think it was frightening to see such things happening in a place like that,” said one witness.
Authorities said no patients or hospital personnel were injured. Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary reopened completely at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Police called Wallace a career criminal. He has not yet been charged with this incident at Mass. Eye and Ear but investigators said he’s already being held on high bail. He is accused of an armed robbery of a Pet Smart store in 2011 in Salem.