The man threatening to detonate a bomb inside Boulder Community Hospital this morning has been shot once in the chest by police.
The man is being treated at the hospital for life-threatening injuries.
The man has been identified by police as Terrance Baughman, 32, of Boulder.
Numerous bangs were heard earlier in the area. Police say they are related to the event.
A bomb squad robot is now examining the device.
According to police, a man in a wheelchair claiming to be armed with an oxygen tank rigged with a detonator he carried in a box reportedly entered the hospital early this morning through the emergency room entrance and threatened to detonate the tank.
Officers were previously negotiating with the suspect and his physician. FBI, ATF and Boulder County Sheriff's officers were called in to assist.
The Boulder bomb squad and SWAT were also on scene. Armed officers were patrolling outside the hospital and along some of the major roads leading past the area.
Officials were asking the public to stay away from North Boulder Park earlier today, where snipers were deployed. They closed additional roads around the hospital. Closed are Balsam west of Broadway and Ninth from Cedar to Alpine.
Casey Middle School, which is just a few blocks away, is under "controlled access," district spokesman Briggs Gamblin said.
"That means just the main entrance is open, and those doors have staff standing by them," he said. "All other nearby schools have been alerted."
The hospital was partially evacuated and is locked down. Incoming patients were being diverted to other area medical facilities, police said.
Police said Baughman previously had been a patient at the hospital, however they said they did not know why he was there today.
Baughman has a lengthy criminal history record, including several dangerous drug and marijuana charges, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Boulder police also arrested him on felony robbery charges in 2003, and misdemeanor charges that include theft and assault that same year. His most recent arrest was in January for a failure to appear in court on expired license plate ticket.
They are asking his friends and family who may have any information to call officers at 303-441-3333.
Hospital spokesman Rich Sheehan said all of the hospital's patients are safe.
"There are no patients or visitors who are in any danger," he said. "The police have estimated a safety zone for us... based on the size of the package the gentleman was carrying, and we have evacuated all patients, staff and visitors beyond that safety zone."
Sheehan said five patients in the emergency room were relocated as the incident unfolded. He said some patients in the hospital know what's happening "if they've inquired about it."
He said the suspect is not a patient.
Officers have set up a perimeter around the hospital, closing Balsam west of Broadway and detouring motorists around the hospital.
Read more here at
www.dailycamera.com as the situation develops.
