Hospital Employee Brings High-Powered Rifle To Mass General, Says God Told Him To: Police

Reports of a man experiencing a mental breakdown while carrying a hunting rifle sent Boston police to an apartment building at 36 Fleet Street in Boston at approximately 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, according to police documents.

The man is an employee of the hospital, a representative for Massachusetts General Hospital told Daily Voice. 

Police performed a sweep of the Fleet Street apartment building but the man was nowhere to be found. Due to the "immense risk" of the situation, an officer began repeatedly calling the number the man used to call 911.

The man, whose name was redacted from the police report, eventually answered the phone, and officers were able to determine by background noise that he was at a hospital.

After more phone call attempts, a doctor responded to the officer's call and told police that the man was at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Before police could arrive, a hospital security guard made contact with the man, who was outside the hospital, and told him to lower the object he was holding. The security guard did not know at the time that the object was a Winchester 88 rifle, wrapped in a shower curtain.

The man was taken into police custody, who then passed him to the custody of the hospital under a section 12 filing, a law that protects the rights those who are admitted and discharged to hospitals for psychiatric evaluation and/or treatment. 

Police were informed that the rifle-toting man had a history of psychosis and would be transferred to an inpatient locked psych unit.

The man told police that he got the rifle from his grandfather, and that it was a "cool old antique."

"We appreciate the quick actions of all involved including our colleagues and the Boston Police Department," said a representative for Massachusetts General Hospital. "No patients were affected and the hospital remained open and operating normally."

The Winchester 88 rifle and a magazine were confiscated by police.

The man was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. 

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