Two hospital employees killed in a shooting Saturday at Methodist Dallas Medical Center have been identified by authorities Monday who also released new details in the ongoing investigation into the double fatal shooting.
Dallas Chief of Police Eddie Garcia, along with Methodist Health System Chief of Police Glen Fowler, gave an update on the investigation into what took place inside the hospital Saturday morning.
According to Garcia, 45-year-old Jacqueline Pokuaa and 63-year-old Katie Flowers were the two hospital employees fatally shot Saturday morning when a man visiting a patient started shooting people in the hospital's mother and baby floor.
Garcia said 30-year-old Nestor Hernandez arrived at the hospital at 10:21 a.m. to see a patient and that during that visit pulled out a gun from his pants and struck the patient multiple times in the head. Police did not immediately say what led the man to begin attacking the woman.
Get DFW local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC DFW newsletters.
After the assault, Garcia said Pokuaa came into the room to provide routine services to the patient and that as she was working on the woman Hernandez got up, walked over to her and shot her once.
Garcia said Methodist Health Sgt. Robert Rangel was a few doors down investigating a stolen property call when he heard the gunshot. Another hospital employee, Katie Flowers, also heard the gunfire.
Flowers, Garcia said, looked into the room and was shot by Hernandez as she stood in the hallway.
Both Pokuaa and Flowers later died from their injuries.
The focus here today of course should be on the lives lost. On Saturday we lost two healthcare workers who were going about their day caring for others.
Dallas Chief of Police Eddie Garcia
Rangel witnessed the second shooting, took cover and called for backup, Garcia said.
Investigators said Hernandez reloaded his gun and started to leave the patient's room but was confronted by Rangel and was shot in the leg.
Hernandez retreated into the room where he remained barricaded until he eventually surrendered and was taken into custody with the help of Dallas Police Officers.
"There is no doubt that his actions that day saved lives by stopping the suspect from leaving the room. There was no further loss of life. Sgt. Rangel remained engaged, created a rapport with the suspect, constantly communicating with the suspect and the patient inside the room throughout the barricade situation," Garcia said. "Ultimately the suspect did surrender and was taken into custody by law enforcement."
"I want to commend Sgt. Rangel for protecting staff, patients and newborns who remained on that floor that day," Garcia said.
Hernandez was stabilized and moved to a different hospital for treatment where he remains in an unknown condition. Hernandez has since been charged with the capital murder of multiple persons. It's not clear if he's obtained an attorney.
Garcia said the woman assaulted by Hernandez was treated for her injuries. A newborn child in the room at the time was not injured.
"We're very thankful for the outpouring of support we have received," Fowler said. "Violence against health care workers is on the rise and it is something that is of great concern across our nation. We are extremely thankful for the courage, the poise, the professionalism shown by Sgt. Rangel as he addressed this critical incident, being able to pass information to our dispatch center, responding officers, to communicate and attempt to negotiate with the suspect during very trying times."
Garcia said Monday that Methodist Health Systems, which has its own police force, has asked to take over both the homicide investigation and the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
VIDEO SHOWS TERRIFYING MOMENTS AFTER THE SHOOTINGS
Video released after the shooting shows the terrifying moments unfolding as a man, identified by police as Hernandez, started firing inside the hospital. The video shows staff and visitors hiding as police closed in on the gunman.
Amanda Birdwell, who was visiting the hospital when the shooting started, said she was first in disbelief.
"It all kind of hit us that like, 'Oh this is, like, serious. Like, this is actually happening right now.' So we all went back there everyone was crying," Birdwell said.
SHOOTING SUSPECT HAS A LONG CRIMINAL HISTORY
Since the shooting NBC 5 has learned Hernandez had previously been in prison and was out on parole. He was still wearing an ankle monitor but had received permission to be at the hospital and with his partner while she gave birth.
Garcia said Monday that a person with Hernandez's criminal history should not have been freed and that someone who requires an ankle monitor should probably still be in custody.
"As I've stated publicly before ... in my opinion, this is a failure of the criminal justice system. A violent individual such as this should not have been on an ankle monitor and should have remained in custody," Garcia said.
Garcia said Hernandez was sentenced to eight years in prison for aggravated assault and was released in October 2021 after serving just six years. Garcia said Hernandez was arrested in March 2022 for an unspecified parole violation. In April he was released to his parole officer but was arrested again in June, this time by Carrollton Police, again for an unspecified parole violation. Garcia said Hernandez was held in the county jail and turned over to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice which released him in September 2022 with an ankle monitor.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice confirmed to NBC 5 on Monday afternoon that Hernandez was serving time for aggravated robbery and was released from state prison on Oct. 20, 2021. The TDCJ said he was on parole with a special condition of electronic monitoring and was granted permission to be at the hospital to be with his significant other during and after the delivery of the child. The Office of Inspector General is working with Dallas Police as they investigate.
NBC 5 has learned that Hernandez has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2011 including arrests for aggravated robbery, burglary, drug possession, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
METHODIST BOOSTS SECURITY
Since the shooting, Methodist Health Systems said more security is being added at the Dallas hospital campus, including in the mother/baby unit.
"Safety on each of our campuses is of paramount concern and is evaluated on an ongoing basis and anytime an issue occurs," the hospital said in a statement.
The hospital said they have recently installed new cameras at the hospital and strengthened security barriers and held active shooter training for staff. The hospital said that while security is evaluated, they believe at this time it's important to not lose focus on supporting the families of the victims.
METHODIST DALLAS SHOOTING
Sign up for our Breaking Newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox.
