ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- A hospital handyman who held a set of doors closed against a gunman was hailed by those he saved as a fallen hero, one of three killed in a shooting spree at West Anaheim Medical Center.
The shooting rampage began Tuesday morning when, police say, 42-year-old Dung Trinh walked into the hospital and started firing. Authorities said Trinh was apparently angry at the hospital over the death of his mother at another hospital earlier in the day.Witnesses said Ronald Robertson, 51, tried to close the doors on the gunman, who had already shot two other employees and was heading toward the hospital's lobby where dozens of people were milling about.
While shutting the doors, Robertson was shot in the chest. Then, according to witnesses, a wounded Robertson jumped on the gunman, trying to hold him back, and was shot twice more.
The gunman was finally disarmed by employees.
"I'm here to say God bless the man that did save our lives for trying to shut the doors so it wouldn't come out to the lobby," said Debbie Cooper, who was in the lobby with her children when the shooting began.
Trinh's 72-year-old mother, Mot Trinh, had been treated at West Anaheim Medical Center in June for an undisclosed illness. She was taken to Anaheim Memorial West Hospital early Tuesday and died about five hours later.
After her death, police Lt. Steven Walker said Trinh drove a few blocks to West Anaheim Medical Center, opened fire and killed the three people.
Neither police nor hospital officials would speculate why Trinh was angry at the hospital.
Police identified the other victims as Marlene Mustaffa, 60, of Buena Park, a nurse's assistant, and Vincent Rosetti, 51, of Seal Beach, who ran the pharmacy.
Robertson, who was director of environmental services and responsible for the hospital's housekeeping duties, had been with the hospital 10 years. He was married and had three children.
Hospital spokeswoman Debra Culver said crisis intervention counseling was being offered to patients and hospital staffers.
"They were all wonderful individuals," she said of those who died. "I knew them and I, too, am feeling the loss."