A 34-year-old Lynwood man was identified Tuesday in as the suspect arrested in the disturbance at a Kaiser Permanente hospital in Downey.
Jesus Chavez was being held at the Los Angeles County Jail on charges of making criminal threats, police said in a news release. The incident began Tuesday at 11:34 a.m., when officers received a call of a disturbance inside one of the medical buildings at 9333 Imperial Highway.
The call was elevated to an “active shooter” in progress and dozens of people were evacuated from the hospital, officials said.
Police said the suspect surrendered to police while trying to hide from them inside the building. They said he was armed with a pistol. No shots fired and nobody was injured during the ordeal, officials said.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
The incident prompted a massive response from deputies and police clad in riot gear. They could be seen entering the hospital as employees and others walked out of the building, many with their hands over their heads.
Downey Police Chief Carl Charles said a disturbance led a Kaiser security guard to go up to the man. He said the suspect threw a chair through a window and pulled out a handgun.
Charles said six or seven gunshots were heard, but police haven’t confirmed any shots were fired.
Report of Active Shooter Prompts Lockdown at Kaiser
Those in the area were shocked.
“Right around 12, police just started rushing inside — two active shooters inside and one’s stuck in the second floor,” said Ernie Martinez, who was among the employees evacuated on the street.
Liz Picou was visiting her mother while she worked at the hospital and was eating at Stox restaurant down the street, when she saw patrol units flying down Imperial Highway.
“I was worried about my mom,” Picou said. “It’s just too close to home, especially on 9/11.”
NBC4’s Rudy Chinchilla contributed to this report.