One man had a wife and daughter working on the same floor where the shooting that left two employees dead took place. He shares what his family told him of the scene
DALLAS — Saturday morning’s deadly shooting at Dallas’ Methodist Hospital has left nurses, doctors and employees at an Oak Cliff faculty shaken up.
Their days were spent waiting to hear from their loved ones, to get assurances that their friends and coworkers were safe.
Sources told WFAA there was a Methodist Hospital police officer on the fourth floor where the shooting happened. They believe the officer’s quick response saved lives.
Eddie Smith’s wife and daughter were feet away from the shooting.
“They made it through, which was a blessing,” said Smith, shaking as he described how his loved ones work in the labor and delivery area, right by where the shooting took place.
“She was yelling, screaming and crying,” Smith said of the call he got from his daughter, alerting him to what was going on. “I asked her to calm down. She said there is an active shooter on their floor.”
Sources told WFAA all the patients and hospital staff were evacuated and taken to another floor. At that point, Smith’s loved ones were separated.
“She couldn’t find her mom, my wife,” said Smith.
That’s because his wife was hiding from the accused shooter, 30-year-old Nestor Hernandez.
“She was hiding in the bathroom,” said Smith.
Meanwhile, Smith said he was doing everything in his power to get to the hospital to be with his family.
“Right at that time when it was happening, your mind is racing,” he said. “I ran a few lights trying to get here.”
Police said two hospital employees died at the scene, including a nurse.
“I still hurt for the one who lost her life,” Smith said. “For all the nurses and doctors on that floor, they have to go through this, as far as thinking about it for the rest of their lives. My heart and prayers goes out to them.”
WFAA spoke to a number of hospital nurses who said they knew the nurse who was killed. They said she was at retirement age and she lived for her grandkids. They described her as someone who would always take charge.
They said are left heartbroken by Saturday’s events.