RIVIERA BEACH, FL — A double amputee opened fire inside a Florida VA medical center Wednesday night striking at least two people, including a doctor. The physician was wounded while attempting to subdue the gunman, according to the FBI.
The doctor’s swift action was praised by an FBI spokesman who said the physician “probably saved a lot of lives today.”
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The gunman was identified as 59-year-old Larry Ray Bon of Michigan. Bon was brought to the emergency room for treatment and became disruptive.
“At about 6:21 p.m. he pulled out a small handgun and opened fire in the emergency room, striking at least two people,” said the FBI spokesman outside the medical center. “He grazed one who was minimally injured. The second victim was shot in the neck and was transported to Lake Mary Hospital where he received excellent treatment and was released from the hospital.”
The incident occurred at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center, which is located at 7305 North Military Trail in Riviera Beach, Florida, less than five miles from West Palm Beach.
A spokesperson for the Veterans Administration told Patch that no one else was harmed during the incident.
The FBI spokesperson said Bon may be homeless and appears to have a criminal history with frequent contacts with local police.
“The shooter is a double amputee. He’s missing his legs from the knee down so he’s confined to a wheelchair, an electric wheelchair,” the FBI spokesperson said. “During the shooting, in between shots, the doctor saw an opportunity to jump on the subject and disarm him. … While doing so, he sustained the gunshot wound to his neck.”
The VA spokesperson said the facility was secure and would be open on Thursday for scheduled appointments and procedures.
The gunman served in the U.S. Army for a short period during the 1970s. The FBI does not believe he was injured in the service.
WPBF TV in West Palm Beach reported that the gunman arrived at the facility around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday and was described as combative.
A veteran who suffers from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder told the news crew that the loud noise aggravated his condition. “When I heard that one shot it put fear in my heart,” Antonio Smith said. “A shot, a firework, a backfire, it irks me having PTSD.”