Florida Man Shoots Son in Hospital in Apparent Murder-Suicide
A Florida man posted a photo of his son just moments before shooting him in a hospital and then turning the gun on himself Thursday, as reported by the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office. Joe E. Landon, 67, was identified as the shooter, who first shot his son, Noah Ryan Presley Landon, 23, before turning the gun on himself inside AdventHealth Sebring.
Confrontation Leading to Tragic Events
Sheriff Blackman’s Statement
“There was a confrontation, more between father and son in trying to get him into the facility to receive some sort of help,” Sheriff Paul Blackman said in front of the hospital’s Emergency Room entrance. “The special needs young man was having a rough day, a difficult day, and the staff here was trying to give him the help he needed.”
Police Involvement
Police were called twice to the hospital. First, they were called at 8 a.m. to help calm the younger Landon as the hospital restrained him, then they were called just before 11:30 a.m. when the shooting occurred.
Distraught Father
Hospital workers had to use restraints on Noah to hold him to a bed in a mental health room. Joe then became distraught, leading to the tragic events that followed.
Photo Posted on Social Media
Before the violent act, Joe apparently used his cell phone to photograph Noah on the hospital bed. The photo shows the son with restraints around his chest, stomach, legs, and wrists. Joe then posted it to Facebook with a prayer caption.
Lockdown and Emergency Response
The incident sent the hospital into lockdown and ambulances were diverted to another hospital. Following these events, AdventHealth West Florida reassured that no team members were harmed in the incident.
Conclusion
The tragic events that unfolded in AdventHealth Sebring serve as a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and seeking help when needed. Our thoughts go out to all those affected by this heartbreaking incident.