COLLIERVILLE, TENNESSEE: A Collierville surgeon was shot and killed by a patient on Tuesday afternoon, July 11, inside the Campbell Clinic on Poplar Avenue. The suspect was apprehended outside the clinic within five minutes after the shooting. Police have not identified the suspect or released any information about a possible motive.
Dr Benjamin Mauck was a highly respected and beloved physician who specialized in elbow, hand, and wrist surgery. He joined the Campbell Clinic staff in August 2012, six years after completing medical school training at the University of Tennessee-Memphis. “Earlier today, we experienced a single shooter event inside our Collierville clinic,” Campbell Clinic said in a statement. “We are shocked and heartbroken to confirm the incident resulted in the tragic loss of one of our highly respected and beloved physicians, Dr Ben Mauck.” The clinic said it will be closed on July 12 until further notice. “We appreciate our local law enforcement officers who responded within minutes,” Campbell Clinic said. “We will continue to work closely with authorities as this remains an active investigation.”
How was Dr Benjamin Mauck's killer caught?
The shooting occurred in an exam room inside the Campbell Clinic. The suspect and Dr Mauck were the only two people in the exam room at the time of the shooting. The suspect shot Dr Mauck multiple times, and he died at the scene. The suspect then fled the clinic, but he was apprehended outside the building five minutes later. The suspect was still armed with the gun when he was taken into custody.
Susan Baker was at the clinic with her family when the shooting happened. She said she saw the suspect run out of the building and told police what she had seen. “Someone’s not going home to their family tonight and it could have been any one of us that was in that clinic today,” she told WREG. Another witness, who asked not to be named, said he saw the suspect being taken into custody. He said the suspect was still holding the gun when he was arrested. The witness said the suspect had called Dr Mauck's office and made threats against him for at least a week. “The gentleman that was with me, he actually saw the shooter run out of the building and he was letting the officers know that as we were still trying to get out of the building,” Baker said.
Video shows police response
Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane said his officers responded to the scene within minutes of the shooting. He praised his officers for their quick response and said they were able to apprehend the suspect without any further violence. “Again, we’re talking about a guy who ran from a shooting scene and he’s in custody within five minutes, without additional loss of life, including our team, the suspect,” Lane said. “This is a terrible tragedy, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of Dr Mauck. We are working diligently to investigate this crime and bring the suspect to justice," he added.
Tennessee Senate minority leader Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) called for gun reform in the wake of the shooting. She said the gunman likely wouldn’t have been afforded access to a firearm under stricter regulations. “Tragedies like this underscore the urgent need for common sense – like reinstating background checks and gun licenses, and establishing new reforms like an order of protection so police can remove firearms from a person who is threatening others,” she said in a statement. “Whether you’re at school, a grocery store, or on the job, you deserve to live and work free from gun violence.”
The shooting has shaken the community, and many are calling for action to prevent future tragedies. “This is a senseless act of violence, and it has no place in our community,” said Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner. “We will not tolerate this kind of behavior, and we will do everything we can to keep our community safe.” The investigation is ongoing.
