PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A city judge upheld several charges against a man accused of walking into Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and killing his colleague, then shooting a police officer in Fairmount Park Fairmount Park on Oct. 4, 2021.
Stacey Hayes, 55, sat silently in a gray hoodie during his preliminary hearing as a nurse who worked with Anrae James described witnessing the 43 being gunned down.
The nurse said he was talking to James about his son in youth football, when the scene unfolded. “It happened all so fast,” he said.
Prosecutors played surveillance video from inside the hospital’s 9th floor orthopedic wing showing James sitting at a computer when a man dressed in scrubs and carrying a large black bag comes around the corner. The man is then seen shooting at James, who pops up from the desk and runs down the hall before collapsing.
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The shooter can be seen following closely behind, continuing to fire.
The nurse said he ran for help but then came back with towels for the blood. He said he tried to perform CPR — but James, a father of three, was dead. James had gunshot wounds to the head, chest, back and arm.
Prosecutors say Hayes later began shooting on the west side of Fairmount Park. Four police officers responded. One testified to the chaos of that day and to his body camera video — which showed him running from his car to where prosecutors say Hayes was shooting. The officer said Hayes fired “countless” rounds from his high-caliber weapon.
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The officer testified that another one of the four was shot in the arm, still hasn’t regained full use and won’t be able to work as a cop again. Another officer was injured with a graze wound to the forehead.
A group of Jefferson nurses was in the courtroom to support James’ family, who was also present.
Hayes has been deemed competent for trial and will be formally arraigned next month.
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