Bobby Smallwood: Oregon hospital security guard bled to death for over 8 minutes after maternity ward shooting
CORVALLIS, OREGON: A tragic incident unfolded at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Oregon, where newly released body camera footage reveals that hospital security guard Bobby Smallwood, shot by a new father outside a maternity ward in July, bled to death for over eight minutes before receiving help.
On July 22, 2023, PoniaX Kane Calles, the new father, was escorted out of the maternity room by Smallwood after making threats following the birth of his child.
Timeline of Legacy Good Samaritan hospital shooting
Smallwood, unarmed and unaware that Calles was likely armed, attempted to explain the situation and calm him down. “Whenever someone may be preventing medical care, they may have to be removed,” Smallwood told Calles. “I can understand this is upsetting. I feel for you. … It’s always for the well-being of the patient.”
Despite at least two other hospital security team members allegedly attempting to signal that the new father was armed, Smallwood, with no information about the immediate danger, continued his efforts to de-escalate the situation.
Smallwood was shot within two minutes of Portland police responding and was assumed to be unharmed due to his bulletproof vest. “Oh Jesus, help me ... Jesus, Jesus, forgive me,” Smallwood could be heard saying on his body camera video. “Ohhh, I’m dead,” as per The Oregonian.
Moreover, the hospital staff found two guns in Calles' possession, and his partner warned that he might have another weapon. The infant's father allegedly fired his gun after a nursing supervisor refused to let him leave the premises.
Bobby Smallwood ‘was a protector’
Upon returning to the maternity floor, nurse supervisor, Jed Schroder was perplexed to find Smallwood on the ground. "He shouldn't be laying on the ground. Why was he laying on the ground? … Why had he not gotten back up?" Schroder questioned.
Flipping Smallwood over, Schroder noticed blood. Tragically, Smallwood was pronounced dead minutes later. An autopsy revealed that Smallwood was shot at the base of his neck and throat, behind his left ear. The fatal shot resulted in his demise as the bullet traveled to his torso.
“He was always like, ‘I’m gonna take care of you,’ like just was a protector, you know? And even if I didn’t know him that well, every person in our sphere, our little healthcare ecosystem, is so important,” General surgery nurse practitioner Elana Scharff said. “And to hear about this is seriously traumatic for all of us,” as per KOIN.
The investigation revealed that a "Code Silver" emergency, requiring staff and patients to shelter in place, was in effect, preventing timely assistance. Calles fled the hospital and died in an officer-involved shooting after the incident.
