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Emergency room doctor Tamara O'Neal shot dead at Mercy Hospital
A Chicago shooting has claimed the lives of four people including Dr. Tamara O'Neal and the man who killed her.
Doctor Tamara O'Neal was a qualified emergency room doctor. She had studied and completed her residency at the University of Illinois before she began working at Mercy Hospital in Chicago.
On November 19, 2018, Doctor Tamara O'Neal arrived for work as usual. While walking through the parking lot of the hospital, she was confronted by her ex-fiance, Juan Lopez.
The couple had been engaged to marry in October but had called off the wedding in September. Lopez asked O'Neal for the ring back, but she said she did not have it.
Condolences family of Dr. Tamara O'Neal, victim @MercyChicago hospital shooting. From a close friend: "Tamara was one of the most persistent and resilient individuals I’ve ever met. She was loved and admired." @cbschicago Prayers also 4 family of @Chicago_Police Samuel Jimenez pic.twitter.com/aHfN8pMHXR
— Dorothy Tucker (@dorothyTV2) November 20, 2018
Read more on our Twitter account @amomama_usa.
According to witnesses, an argument then ensued between the two of them. A friend of O'Neal tried to intervene, but Lopez pulled out a gun and opened fire.
Lopez shot Dr. O'Neal multiple times. When she fell to the ground, he continued to fire at least three more shots into her body.
RIP Dr. Tamara O’Neal, an ER doctor who was shot dead today by a man she had recently broke off an engagement with. https://t.co/bMFRRcwpWp pic.twitter.com/XZuX6Ubl2v
— Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) November 20, 2018
Her friend ran into the hospital to call for help while he was shooting. The police quickly responded and arrived on the scene.
In a statement, Superintendent Johnson said that Lopez then continued to shoot multiple times at police while running into the hospital. The police raced after him and were forced to shoot in retaliation.
Dr. Tamara O'Neal, along with two others, were shot by a gunman at Chicago’s Mercy Hospital.
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) November 20, 2018
She was murdered by her former fiancé. She recently broke off an engagement with him. https://t.co/vbnkwxavN4 pic.twitter.com/ibU0Bg88ce
A female pharmaceutical assistant whose name has not been released and Officer Samuel Jimenez was caught in the crossfire. Unfortunately, both would later succumb to their injuries and pass on.
During the shootout, Lopez was also shot and killed. It is unclear if he was shot by police or if his wounds were self-inflicted.
So saddened by the loss of a young vibrant physician, Dr. Tamara O’Neal, our @SNMA and @NationalMedAssn colleague, in a senseless act of violence. She lost her life on the same hospital grounds where she has saved so many. This must end. #IntimatePartnerViolence #ThisIsOurLane pic.twitter.com/cUpZFG0n1B
— Michael G. Knight MD (@MGKnightMD) November 20, 2018
Dr. Tamara O'Neal is remembered fondly by her colleagues and friends. Many took to social media to express their condolences and shock at what had happened.
Lopez shot Dr. O'Neal multiple times. When she fell to the ground, he continued to fire at least three more shots into her body.
She was a brilliant mind who had graduated from Purdue University in 2002 with a major in Psychology and a minor in pre-medicine before she had gone on to study at the University of Illinois.
https://twitter.com/MGKnightMD/status/1064863722827599872
Like she had predicted when she started her residency in Illinois, she had an "impact so many people from so many walks of life." Those who knew O'Neal miss her terribly.
