Hospital Employee Kills Co-Worker, Then Calls Authorities to Surrender
A hospital employee shot and killed a co-worker inside the facility Wednesday and then drove 18 miles to her home, where she surrendered to police, authorities said.
The suspect, identified as Valarie Wheeler, 39, arrived for work at the Crestwood Hospital’s housekeeping department, pulled out a small-caliber pistol and shot fellow housekeeper Robert Boone, 54, after an argument, authorities said.
Hospital officials said Boone, a 17-year employee, was taken to a nearby trauma center with a gunshot wound to the chest and died an hour later during surgery.
Wheeler’s argument with Boone was described as work-related by police, who said the two had had several arguments in recent days.
Authorities said Wheeler later called police from her home and offered to surrender. She was taken into custody and charged with murder. Bail was set at $20,000.
The shooting took place in front of two other hospital employees, who were not identified.
The hospital arranged psychological counseling for both witnesses, as well as for other members of its staff.
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