61-year-old Jeffrey Mabalcon shot and killed himself in an empty patient room at Emanuel Medical Center around 5 a.m. Sept. 7.
According to Turlock City News, the morning of Sept. 7 an Emanuel employee told a nurse that there was a man in one of the patient rooms that should have been empty. He was sitting in the room alone, facing away from the door.
“The nurse returned to the room and knocked on the door, at which time the man shot and killed himself,” according to Turlock Citty News.
“Turlock Police were phoned at 5:08 a.m., and arrived on-scene shortly thereafter, taking control of the situation.”
It is unknown how Mabalcon got into the empty room, as no employees reportedly spoke to him prior to the incident.
“[T]he man was not a patient, and was not visiting family at the hospital,” John R. Sigsbury, President and CEO of Emanuel Medical Center said.
“We have found no connection at all with the individual.”
As a part of the hospital’s procedure to ensure safety, Emanuel was on lockdown.
“Following the incident, the hospital was placed on lockdown for roughly two hours, as a precautionary measure,” Sigsbury said.
“There were no interruptions to patient service as a result of the shooting, and the room where the incident occurred has since returned to operation.”
After Mabalcon shot himself, the on-duty nurses quickly began attempting to save his life.
Regardless of the potential danger, no one else was injured from the event.
“For them to put aside any fear, or doubt, or concern just demonstrates how wonderful they are, and demonstrates the patient’s welfare is always their primary concern,” Sigsbury said.
There are virtually no leads as to why Mabalcon took his life, or why he chose Emanuel to execute his plan. Although many know little about him or his family, they are still mindful of the effect this incident is having.
“It’s a terrible thing,” Sigsbury said to FOX 40 News. “Our hearts go out to the family.”
There is still an ongoing investigation by both the Turlock Police Department and Emanuel Medical Center to decipher how he entered the building, and why he chose Emanuel Medical Center to carry out his plan.