Former employee believed to be shooter in murder-suicide at Sarasota veterinary hospital: Investigators

SARASOTA, Fla. - Two are dead after a shooting that is believed to be a murder-suicide inside a Sarasota veterinary hospital Wednesday evening, deputies said. 

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to KindVet of Sarasota Urgent Care at around 5:10 p.m. after a call came in about a possible shooter inside the building. 

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Investigators said two people, including the suspect, were found inside the business with gunshot wounds. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, and deputies said the victim was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital where they later died. 

The suspect who shot the victim is believed to be a former employee at KindVet of Sarasota Urgent Care, according to the sheriff's office. 

Authorities are aware of a social media post that was made prior to the shooting, and they said it could be connected to the incident.

Gale Hanscom, a mother of one of the employees who was inside the business when the shooting happened, told FOX 13 that she got a text from her daughter, who was hiding in a closet. 

"I just told the [deputies] I’m not leaving until I get my hands on my baby, once I saw her, okay it was a lot of relief," Hanscom said.

Hanscom said her daughter heard the former employee arguing with a doctor before six shots fired. That's when, Hanscom said her daughter called 911. 

"I’m proud of her, very proud of her, in that situation to keep her head, to have the forethought that we have to hide and to call 911," she said.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.