A fatal shooting on July 11 at a medical clinic in Collierville, Tennessee has left an orthopedic surgeon dead.
Larry Pickens, 29, a patient at the clinic and Memphis resident, was arrested near the clinic’s entrance minutes after the shooting. According to his aunt, Pickens has a history of mental illness,“schizophrenic bipolar paranoid disorder,” and was institutionalized 10 times, most recently a week before this incident. In 2016 he attacked his stepfather with a butcher knife and left him with two punctured lungs. In an ironic twist, Dr. Mauck nursed the stepfather back to health.
Dr. Benjamin Mauck, who specialized in elbow, hand, and wrist surgeries, was a respected member of the Campbell Clinic, having joined in August 2012. He was a proud alumnus of Lambuth University and the University of Tennessee-Memphis. The clinic confirmed his death following the tragic incident.
Pickens, who was at the clinic for several hours on the day of the shooting, is believed to have committed a targeted act in an exam room. He previously had surgery on his finger performed by Dr. Mauck. No other injuries were reported at the clinic, which had numerous patients and employees present during the incident.
The quick actions and professionalism of the clinic’s staff, who have received active shooter training, were praised by Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane. He stated that the suspect, now facing charges of first-degree murder and aggravated assault, was arrested within minutes of the incident.
This event underscores the concerning prevalence of violence against healthcare workers, a reality highlighted by Bureau of Labor Statistics data and associated research. Following the incident, the clinic remained closed on Wednesday, July 12.
