Following Shooting, Florida VA Hospital Increases Police Presence and Security Checks

Following Shooting, Florida VA Hospital Increases Police Presence and Security Checks

The hospital where a mentally ill veteran opened fire in an emergency room is also home to a congressional office.

Several months after a mentally ill veteran opened fire on doctors and patients at a veterans hospital in Florida, the medical center has taken steps to better secure its facility and address concerns about how the man was able to bring a gun on the property.

Larry Ray Bon, a veteran who was homeless after moving from Michigan to Palm Beach, Florida, brought a gun to the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center in February. Court records showed that he fired six shots before a doctor was able to wrestle the gun away from him. One doctor was hit in the neck, and two others were injured.

Bon reportedly had been inside the hospital for hours before pulling the gun out from under his wheelchair cushion, according to local news outlet WPTV. There were no police officers inside the emergency room where Bon was waiting for medical attention.

The incident raised concerns from patients and medical professionals alike about the hospital’s security. Rep. Brian Mast, who served in the military and has a congressional office in the same hospital, echoed those concerns in a recent interview with WPTV. (The VA has recently told Mast and other representatives that they are being evicted from their offices in VA facilities).

"I would think that would just be common sense that you are checking them for weapons at that point,” Mast said, referring to Bon’s wait time in the emergency room for hours before the shooting. “It's beyond me that it didn't happen.”

Mast, who has been in talks with hospital officials for years about security issues, added that the center is going to have “100 percent ID checks” at every entrance to the facility. The emergency room also has a better police presence in the months following the shooting, Mast said.

"Making sure that there is 24-hour security presence inside of the emergency room, it's an important step in the right direction,” Mast said. “But that begs the question of why shouldn't there be the same presence in other places.”

Despite some requests for metal detectors from patients, the VA is not planning on adding them to the hospital, WPTV reported. In a statement, the VA said it is “committed to ensuring patient and employee safety at all of its medical centers and facilities.” The agency added that the West Palm Beach center provides regular updates on the facility’s security plan to the congressional delegation and most recently did so in August.

That update included the addition of enhanced entrance security and the “inclusion of passive security measures,” the statement reads. More details could not be shared about the nature of those measures because it could jeopardize security.

“It is VA’s goal to ensure health care providers and police personnel work collaboratively while protecting the safety of our unique Veteran population,” the VA said.

Bon is still in police custody but has not been formally indicted by U.S. attorneys as the defense and prosecution assess his mental health. He will have his next hearing on Oct. 21.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Video Surveillance Trends to Watch

    With more organizations adding newer capabilities to their surveillance systems, it’s always important to remember the “basics” of system configuration and deployment, as well as the topline benefits of continually emerging technologies like AI and the cloud. Read Now

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.