Indiana Women Among Victims Of Fatal Chicago Hospital Shooting

ACROSS INDIANA — The family members of two northwest Indiana women killed in Monday's shooting at Chicago's Mercy Hospital and Medical Center are being remembered and praised for being positive and dedicated employees and family members.

According to Northwest Indiana Times, first-year pharmacy resident Dayna Less, 25, a former St. John resident who attended Purdue University, was planning on signing on for a second year of residency at Mercy Hospital, and was set to marry her high school sweetheart on June 1, 2019 in Schererville. Today, Less' loved ones are mourning, including her fiancé Adam Keric.

"Adam's heart is broken," Brian Less said to the NWI Times. "What else can you say?"

Emergency room physician Tamara O'Neal, 38, a Portage native who lived in LaPorte, never worked on Sundays because she was extremely dedicated to her church, the news report said.

O’Neal was a physician with the Emergency Physicians Medical Group, contracted to work as an emergency room physician at Franciscan Health Michigan City for just under a year, and completed the emergency medicine residency training program at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2016, Mercy Hospital said, according to the NWI Times.

Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said the shooting unfolded after the gunman - later identified as 32-year-old Juan Lopez - confronted O'Neal, with whom he'd been in a relationship, in the start of what Johnson described as a domestic incident. According to the Chicago Tribune, the man, had a concealed carry license, and revealed a handgun when an acquaintance of O'Neal's tried to intervene, Johnson said.

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Before fleeing into the hospital, the shooter fired on police as they arrived at the scene following multiple 911 calls. Officers returned fire from a squad car before chasing the shooter into the hospital building, Johnson said.

Inside, more shots were exchanged. During the shootout, Less was hit as she exited an elevator, the Tribune reports. Jimenez also was hit, Johnson said.

The gunman eventually was killed in the shootout. Johnson said it was unclear whether he was shot by police or suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

One of the fatally injured women was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the other was transported to University of Chicago Hospital. Both were pronounced dead.

"That woman [Less] got off an elevator and was shot. Why?" Johnson said during Monday's press conference.

According to the NWI Times, 25-year-old Dayna suffered from debilitating headaches as a teenager, but was able to live a pain-free life thanks to two surgeries. Through her job and blog, mydaughtersheadache.com, she's been able to spread hope and provide help.

Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said it was unclear whether the gunman was killed by police or by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Chicago Police Officer Samuel Jimenez, 28, was also killed during the incident at the Near South Side facility, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. Johnson said Jimenez had recently finished his probationary period as an officer. He leaves behind a wife and three children, according to WGN.

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A Monday press conference addressed Jimenez's death and officers' response to the incident, and Chicago Mayor Rom Emanuel stressed that the other victims in the shooting shouldn't be forgotten.

"The City of Chicago lost a doctor, a pharmaceutical assistant and a police officer all going about their day, all doing what they love," Emanuel said. "This tears at the soul of the city in the face and consequence of evil."

ABC 7 Chicago reported that the gunman also shot at a second officer, but the bullet struck his holster and embedded itself in his gun, and he was not injured.

Patch editor Joe Vince also contributed to this piece.

Photo: A Chicago police officer works the scene after a gunman opened fire at Mercy Hospital, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Chicago. A police spokesman said the gunman was dead, but it was not immediately clear if he took his own life or was killed by police at the hospital on the city's South Side. (AP Photo/David Banks)