Police: Grove City security guard lied about circumstances of shooting

A security guard at a Mercer County hospital shot himself on purpose and then lied that he had been in an altercation with four men outside the hospital, state police said.

The 24-year-old man, whom authorities have not identified, suffered a gunshot wound to the upper left chest, but was expected to recover, Trooper Eric Maurer said.

Emergency responders flew the security guard from Grove City Medical Center to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Oakland for treatment, Maurer said.

The guard had a 9mm handgun, but he was not carrying it as part of his job, Maurer said. The guard had a license to carry the weapon, police said.

Police said the guard shot himself about 10:45 p.m. on hospital grounds, roughly 75 to 100 yards from the hospital.

No one else was injured, Maurer said.

The guard dropped the gun and collapsed at the emergency room entrance. He told staffers and responding police that he had been wounded in a confrontation with four men who ran off, Maurer said.

Through interviews with witnesses, Maurer said, police determined there wasn't an altercation, and then the guard admitted he had shot himself. Police said they don't know why the man shot himself.

The guard could face a charge of providing false reports to law enforcement, Maurer said.

Bill Vidonic is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-380-5621 or bvidonic@tribweb.com.