A fatal shooting on July 11 at a medical clinic in Collierville, Tennessee has left an orthopedic surgeon dead.
The authorities have identified the suspect as Larry Pickens, 29, from Memphis, who was a patient at the clinic at the time of the incident. Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane confirmed the suspect was apprehended five minutes post-incident near the clinic’s entrance. According to his aunt, Pickens has a history of mental illness,“schizophrenic bipolar paranoid disorder,” and was institutionalized 10 times, most recently last week. He knifed his stepfather in 2016 and left him with two punctured lungs. In an ironic twist, Dr. Mauck nursed the stepfather back to health.
Dr. Benjamin Mauck, a specialist in elbow, hand, and wrist surgeries, was identified as the victim. Having graduated from Lambuth University and the University of Tennessee-Memphis, he had been a part of the Campbell Clinic team since August 2012.
No other casualties were reported from the clinic, which was teeming with staff and patients during the incident. According to Lane, the clinic’s staff demonstrated commendable courage and professionalism during the crisis, likely due to their active shooter training.
The assailant, now in custody, faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated assault, with a bond set at $1.2 million. The incident, which took place in an exam room, appears to have been a targeted act according to investigators. Dr. Mauck had recently operated on Pickens’ finger.
This tragic event underscores the growing issue of violence against health care workers, a concern supported by data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other research studies. The clinic remained closed the day following the shooting.