Three victims dead in terrifying shooting attack at Chicago hospital: reports

A police officer is dead after a gunman went on a terrifying shooting rampage in a Chicago hospital, which killed at least two other victims.

Just after 3pm local time, gunshots were heard near the inner-city hospital campus, and Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a tweet there had been "reports of multiple victims".

Mr Guglielmi said the gunman, 32, was dead, taking the total fatalities from the shooting to four. It was unclear if he took his own life or was shot dead by police.

Witnesses have described disturbing scenes to local media, where it appeared the gunman repeatedly shot a woman wearing hospital scrubs at close range.

The woman, who was attacked while walking into the hospital, was the shooter's ex-fiancé, according to CBS 2.

After the woman was shot, police and the gunman fired at each other during a gun battle, before the man entered the hospital.

The gunman then fired the fatal shot which killed officer Samuel Jimenez.

"It's with profound sadness that we share the death of PO Samuel Jimenez from tonight's senseless active shooter incident," Mr Guglielmi said in a tweet.

"Please pray for his family, his fellow officers & the entire Chicago Police Department."

US broadcaster ABC reported the three victims who were shot have all died of their injuries.

James Gray, a witness, said he saw a man and woman talking outside the hospital when the male suddenly pulled out a gun and shot her several times.

"Once he entered he just started shooting at random," Mr Gray told NBC station WMAQ. "It looked like he was turning and pointing at people at random."

A heavy police presence, including a SWAT team, and 10 ambulances were sent to the scene.

Steven White told CNN he was in the emergency room when he saw the shooter firing at police.

"We heard some shots so we all ran to the emergency window, we see this guy out there, military style, shooting at the police - pow, pow, pow," he said

Hector Aditia told CBS he was inside the hospital and saw the gunman shoot one of the victims multiple times in the car park.

Mr Aditia said the gunman and the officers exchanged gunfire.

Speaking to The Chicago Tribune, a Mercy Hospital employee said she had heard a warning over the PA system instructing workers to lock their doors.

"I don't know what happened," the worker said as she was evacuated from the hospital building on to a bus.

"They told us to run so we did," one hospital employee said.

More to come...

https://twitter.com/AJGuglielmi/status/1064692653231677440

https://twitter.com/CharlieDeMar/status/1064647864779976704

https://twitter.com/MeganHickeyCBS2/status/1064662875900469249

https://twitter.com/MikeLoweReports/status/1064639824592809984