Kishwaukee Hospital administrators spoke on shooting victims’ status at a news conference Thursday night.

The news conference took place about 7 p.m. at Kishwaukee Health Care Building, 2727 Sycamore Road.

Kevin Poorten, president and CEO of Kishwaukee Health System; Brad Copple, administrator of Kishwaukee Community Hospital; and Joe Dant, vice president of business development of Kishwaukee Health Services; answered questions.

The hospital received the first patient associated with the shooting at 4 p.m.

“The first number [of patients] we heard was about three,” Copple said. “As info started to trickle in, we called the code alert.”

The code alert, sounded at 3:45 p.m., brings more staff and positions to the hospital when there is an increase of patients.

Three were sent to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downer’s Grove, two were sent to OSF Saint Anthony Hospital in Rockford, one was sent to Rockford Memorial Hospital and one was flown to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Patients were transferred because they needed a high level of care, Copple said. Most of them sustained head injuries.

Kishwaukee Hospital is a Level 3 trauma center while Good Samaritan, Saint Anthony and Rockford Memorial hospitals are Level 1 trauma centers.

“We’ve had this kind of trauma but not at this scale,” Copple said. “We are very well trained for this.”

One victim was pronounced dead due to a head injury, but it is not certain if it was due to a gunshot wound or a collateral wound.

Families are in the conference room at the Health Care Building.

“[Families] are shaken. The hardest part is just not knowing,” Poorten said.

Staff has been in contact with the family, Poorten said.

“As we know who they’re there to see, we get them into the ER,” Copple said.

Kishwaukee unveiled its new facility within the past year.

“If there is anything to be fortunate about, it’s that we have this facility,” Poorten said.

The hospital will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. Friday.

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