Doctor killed in Boston hospital shooting was ‘inspiring surgeon’

A cardiac surgeon who was fatally shot at a Boston hospital Tuesday had “devoted his career to saving lives,” the hospital said in a statement.

Dr. Michael Davidson, director of endovascular cardiac surgery, was shot twice Tuesday morning in the Shapiro building at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He died hours later.

“Dr. Davidson was a wonderful and inspiring cardiac surgeon who devoted his career to saving lives and improving the quality of life of every patient he cared for,” the hospital said in a statement late Tuesday night. “It is truly devastating that his own life was taken in this horrible manner.”

Around 11 a.m. local time, 55-year-old Stephen Pasceri walked into the second floor of the Shapiro building, armed with a handgun, Boston police said. Pasceri asked for Davidson and shot him twice, according to Boston Police Commissioner William Evans.

After Pasceri shot Davidson, 44, he went into a nearby room and shot himself to death.

“We’re not sure of the possible motive, but it was clear [the doctor] was targeted,” Evans said Tuesday.

In an interview with the Boston Herald, a woman identified as Pasceri’s sister, Marguerite Joly, said Davidson operated on their mother last year. Their mother died Nov. 15.

“He appeared to be handling her death well,” Joly told the Herald. “I have no idea why he snapped like this.”

Pasceri was in the Army and was honorably discharged, Joly said.

Times staff writer Kurtis Lee contributed to this report.