On May 2, 2023, the hallways of Northside Hospital Medical Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia, were marred by an unthinkable act of violence when a patient opened fire during a medical appointment, leaving one person dead and four others injured.
The assailant’s disgruntlement over medical care reportedly led to this horrifying incident, which has left the community grappling with grief and prompted a broader conversation about healthcare safety.
The victim, identified as Amy St. Pierre, 38, was a public health adviser for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. The other four victims, all women aged between 25 to 71, suffered injuries in the attack. The suspect, a 24-year-old former Coast Guard member named David Kozak, accompanied by his mother, became upset during the medical appointment, leading to the tragic incident.
According to reports, Kozak sought medical care at Northside Hospital after expressing dissatisfaction with the treatment he received from the Department of Veterans Affairs. His mother stated that his frustration escalated when physicians declined to prescribe Ativan, an anti-anxiety medication. The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation, leaving a community in shock and seeking answers.
In response to the unfolding tragedy, Northside Hospital issued a statement on social media, urging people in the area to shelter in place and cooperate with law enforcement. The hospital emphasized the gravity of the situation, acknowledging the impact of the incident on the entire community. The victims were swiftly transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where medical teams worked tirelessly to provide care and support.
Grady Hospital, located approximately 3 miles from the site of the shooting, received four patients in critical condition. A media statement from Grady Hospital indicated that visitation was initially put on hold due to the suspect being at large but was later lifted. The hospital’s chief medical officer, Robert Jansen, MD, provided updates on the victims’ conditions, noting that three patients underwent surgery and were in critical care, while the fourth was placed in the trauma center.
Dr. Jansen shared the emotional toll the event had taken on the survivors, describing their trauma and expressing gratitude for the care they were receiving. The hospital acknowledged the frequency of such incidents but emphasized the added distress when they occur in a healthcare setting, affecting both patients and staff.
