Suspect In Area Hospital Standoff Had Shotgun, BB Gun, Threatened Employee: Police

The man accused of threatening an employee before barricading himself inside a hospital in the region, sparking a nearly five hour lockdown and police standoff, was armed with a shotgun and BB gun, authorities said.

The man accused of threatening an employee before barricading himself inside Albany Medical Center on Monday, March 27, sparking a lockdown and police standoff that lasted nearly five hours, was armed with a shotgun and BB gun, police said.
Photo Credit: *Google Maps street view/Albany Police*

Michael Mashburn

03/28/2023 1:30 p.m.

Emergency crews in Albany were initially called at around 2:40 p.m. Monday, March 27, with reports that a person was armed with a handgun on the third floor of Albany Medical Center, located on New Scotland Avenue.

Earlier Report: Hospital Standoff: Patient's Relative Nabbed After Allegedly Threatening Employees With Weapons

According to Albany Police, 61-year-old Dino Savoca, of Colonie, threatened a transport employee by pointing what appeared to be a handgun at them. When officers arrived, they determined that Savoca was confined to a single room inside the facility where his 97-year-old mother was being treated.

Officers spent the next several hours attempting to persuade Savoca to surrender and allow doctors to continue treating his mother, police said. He refused to exit the room or allow anyone inside, and eventually barricaded the door with a reclining chair.

Shortly after 7 p.m., members of the Albany Police Department’s Emergency Services Team, which is trained in dealing with armed and barricaded suspects, entered the room and arrested Savoca.

Inside the room, police recovered a shotgun and a handgun that was determined to be a BB gun, according to police.

Detectives also searched Savoca’s Colonie home, where they found the house filled with natural gas, along with a burning candle and incense. Police believe he intentionally left a gas stove on.

The discovery led to several nearby homes being evacuated while Colonie Police and the Fuller Road Fire Department responded.

According to investigators, Savoca was upset that his mother was scheduled to be transported to another facility for continued care.

He and his mother both underwent medical evaluations and are in stable condition, police said.

Savoca is being held at the Albany County jail after being arraigned Tuesday morning, March 28, on the following charges:

Criminal possession of a weapon - second degree
Menacing - second degree
Kidnapping - second degree

In a statement on Facebook Monday night, Albany Med said patients and staff were never in danger throughout the entire ordeal.

“We are very grateful for the quick response and professionalism of the Albany Police Department,” reads the post.

"In addition, we are thankful once again for our staff who continued providing safe care at the level that everyone expects from Albany Medical Center.”

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