FORT SMITH, Ark. — Fort Smith law enforcement responded to reports of an armed man at Mercy Hospital on July 23.
Police say 34-year-old John West carried a toy water gun painted black, triggering a hospital-wide lockdown.
Lisa Myers, an adult intensive care nurse at Mercy, said while she is thankful no one was physically harmed, she is mentally and emotionally traumatized.
Myers said she recalls Mercy preparing her and other staff members for something like this through training about a year ago but never thought it would actually happen.
"It just was horrific, and it just went on and on for over two hours," she said.
When the alarms first sounded, Myers said she initially thought it was a drill. She soon realized it was serious.
Myers said she did her best to barricade the door with medical machines and a trash can. She, along with a fellow nurse and a nursing assistant, hid behind a wall. Myers said she told her patient’s family to hide below the bed.
"She and I sat in one corner and then there was a window in this patient's room. We saw all the law enforcement out there," she said.
She said she could hear her other patients’ call lights going off but could not help.
"That was the worst," Myers said. "I wanted to go out there and take care of my patients because it is a calling for me."
Myers says the road to recovery will be a long one.
"Even though the man is put in jail, it's not over for us," she said. "The trauma will continue for a very long time. So many of us are affected, and I just want to make people remember to be vigilant and be aware of their surroundings."
Mercy Hospital sent the following statement to 5NEWS:
"On Monday, July 22, a person suspected of being armed entered Mercy Hospital Fort Smith. The entire campus was put on an immediate lockdown, and local law enforcement was onsite within minutes. By 2 p.m., the suspect was found and apprehended without incident. There were no injuries during this incident.
The health, safety and well-being of our patients, their families, and our co-workers remain our top priorities. We are helping our co-workers in the aftermath of this unsettling event through spiritual care support and Mercy's Employee Assistance Program.
We are thankful for the assistance of Mercy Public Safety, the Fort Smith Police Department, the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Department, the Arkansas State Police, and all other responding law enforcement agencies during this incident."
Myers said she has already called that employee assistance program for support.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.