From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM –A disgruntled University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital employee shot two people, including a Springville man, on the second floor of UAB Highlands before turning a gun on himself on Wednesday night, according to sources. The gunman, later identifies as Trevis Deron Coleman, 32, of Birmingham, was later found dead in an emergency room on the third floor, according to Birmingham police.
Tim Isley, son of Springville mayor William (Butch) and Lynda Isley, was critically wounded in the shooting. Isley has not been identified by law enforcement, but multiple sources have confirmed to the Tribune that he was the male victim in the shooting.
The female victim has been identified as Nancy Swift, 63, of Shelby County, according to her daughter, Angie Mitchell.
Isley was rushed to the main UAB trauma center where he underwent emergency surgery. He was moved to the Intensive Care Unit where he was in stable condition following the surgery.
Isley is a graduate of Springville High School, attended Huntingdon College and is a member of Crosspoint Church. He works in instrument sterilization for Steris at UAB hospital. He also has a twin brother, Zack Isley.
Throughout the night, hundreds in Isley’s hometown of Springville and surrounding areas communicated via social media and offered prayers for his recovery.
Swift, a UAB employee, was also critically wounded in the attack. She was rushed to surgery at UAB Highlands where the shooting occurred, but died during the operation, Birmingham Police Lt. Peter Williston said.
Lt. Williston said an employment related issue led up to the shooting.
“The shooting took place in an office space and there appeared to be no threat to anyone else in the hospital during this incident,” Williston said. “We are still trying to determine what his (gunman) employment status was.”
Upon arrival, Birmingham officers immediately rushed to the area of the shooting.
“Our training for an active shooter is we don’t wait,” Williston said. “If we can go in as a team, that’s how we prefer to do it, but the officers that arrived on the scene did not hesitate. They immediately responded to the active threat that was perceived.”
Coleman had been written up for a disciplinary matter earlier in the day before returning to the hospital with a gun. He was also believed to have worked with instrument sterilization.
Coleman entered UAB Highlands on the 1200 block of 11th Avenue South and made his way to the second floor where he shot the two victims, including Isley when he tried to intervene.
Coleman then fled the area of the shooting and ran to the third floor emergency room where he shot himself. Police located him when they arrived and began a floor by floor search to clear the building. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The initial call went out at 6:55 p.m. Shortly thereafter, UAB issued an alert of an active shooter and instructed students and employees to shelter in place. The all clear was issued at about 7:45 p.m.
All surgeries scheduled for UAB Highlands on Thursday have been canceled. All other hospital operations will carry on as normal.