Man shot by police after entering Baptist Health Hardin hospitalized

UPDATE 11/1/24: The Elizabethtown Police Department says George Lee Jr. has been indicted by a Hardin County Grand Jury. Lee faces two charges of Kidnapping, three counts of first degree Wanton Endangerment, one count of Being a Persistent Felony Offender. The EPD says indictment warrants were served upon Lee’s release from the University of Louisville Hospital, and Lee will be lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

The Elizabethtown Police Department confronted an armed suspect in a hospital emergency room Saturday morning.

“Shortly after 5:00 a.m. this morning, our officers responded to Baptist Health Hardin, located at 913 North Dixie, on the report of an active shooter,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham during a press conference Saturday. “Our officers arrived within just a couple of moments of receiving the initial call, encountered the suspect, and an officer did discharge his weapon, striking the suspect. The suspect was not fatally wounded. He was airlifted from the scene to the University of Louisville Hospital where treatment is ongoing.”

The suspect was confronted by unarmed hospital security staff prior to the arrival of officers, and the EPD says the suspect fired shots but nobody else was injured in the incident. Officers with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky State Police also responded.

“The criminal investigation concerning the shooting at the hospital will be conducted by the Elizabethtown Police Department,” Denham said. “Any investigation concerning the officer-involved shooting will be handled by the Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team.”

Per standard EPD protocol, the officer involved will be placed on two weeks paid administrative leave.

The EPD identified the suspect Sunday afternoon as 39-year-old George Lee. Jr. of Radcliff. He remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.

In a statement on their Facebook page, Baptist Health Hardin thanked their staff and security team along with the EPD for their response to the incident, and stated that staff, patients, and visitors were not injured.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing and charges will be filed as the case progresses.