Man fired from upstate New York hospital pulled over with loaded shotgun near facility
PLATTSBURGH, NY — Police said they believe a shooting at an upstate New York hospital was narrowly prevented after a disgruntled former employee was apprehended away from the facility with a loaded semi-automatic shotgun.
Robert Thibodeau, 52, was arrested Tuesday morning after police in Plattsburgh stopped his pickup and found the 12-gauge shotgun with two 10-round magazines and a box of ammunition. The stop was made after a brother told police that Thibodeau had recently been fired from Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh and had made comments about returning there to harm people, Plattsburgh City police said.
Chief Peter Mitchell said Wednesday that police believe Thibodeau planned to use the weapon at the hospital.
Clinton County Sheriff David Favro told the Plattsburgh Press Republican. that “this is about as close as I’ve seen to what could have ended in a high casualty situation.”
“There are many details that will become apparent upon further investigation. But he certainly had the resources with him, and he certainly could have caused mass casualties with his weapons, and that would have been a terrible situation,” Favro said.
Clinton County Chief Assistant Attorney General Hilary Rogers said she had no comment on the ongoing case.
Thibodeau’s vehicle was intercepted by a patrol officer while en route to the hospital, which is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of the U.S.-Canada border. Thibodeau initially failed to stop when the officer turned on the emergency lights and then did not immediately comply with the command to exit the vehicle. He was ultimately taken into custody without further incident with the assistance of multiple police agencies, Plattsburgh police said.
Thibodeau entered a not guilty plea Tuesday to a charge of second-degree criminal possession of a loaded firearm and was remanded to jail following his arraignment.
Mitchell praised the brother for taking action.
“He’s one of the biggest heroes in this, making that decision,” Mitchell said, “to notify us and make it right before he got to his location.”