SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Over the weekend, a security guard at an Arizona hospital was involved in a shooting incident when he was shot and an alleged attacker was swiftly apprehended. The incident took place around 1 p.m. Sunday at HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center’s emergency room, as confirmed by Scottsdale Police.
This occurrence marks yet another instance of increasing violence against healthcare workers across the United States, emphasizing the difficulties in ensuring their safety. Authorities disclosed that the suspect, aged 30, was promptly disarmed by other on-site security personnel and staff, leading to his subsequent arrest by arriving officers.
The individual has been identified as Maximillian Yanofsky, who now faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, and has been booked into the Maricopa County Jail. As of Monday, attempts to reach legal representation for Yanofsky had been unsuccessful.
The injured security guard was transported to a trauma center for specialized care and remained hospitalized as of Monday. Another guard sustained injuries to his hand and wrist during the altercation. Police revealed that Yanofsky had initially been brought to HonorHealth Shea earlier that day as a prospective patient.
No motive has been disclosed for the shooting. The police detailed that an initial disturbance in the emergency room escalated into a physical confrontation with security, during which Yanofsky produced a firearm, resulting in the shooting of a guard in the upper body.
In a related event late last month, a separate incident unfolded in Pennsylvania, where an armed individual carrying a pistol and zip ties took hospital staff hostage in an ICU before being fatally shot by police in an exchange that also claimed the life of an officer.
Another incident last year involved a man shooting two corrections officers at an Idaho hospital’s ambulance bay while aiding in the escape of a white supremacist gang member, who was later recaptured within two days.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare and social assistance workers accounted for nearly three-quarters of nonfatal assaults in the private sector in 2021 and 2022. This rate is more than five times higher than the national average, underscoring the risks faced by those in the field.
