CITY OF LOCKPORT, N.Y. – Police have arrested a man for the armed robbery of a hospital early Saturday morning. Adam D. Kibler, 24, of Lockport has been charged with first-degree robbery in the case.
Lockport Police say Kibler came into Eastern Niagara Hospital heavily armed around 4:45 a.m., demanding medication. He had two rifles in hand and what he claimed was a bomb. A spokesperson for the hospital says he was provided with a limited amount of drugs at that time.
Police said at a press conference Saturday morning that one police officer fired two shots at Kibler as he was fleeing the scene on foot, but he was not hit. Kibler dropped both rifles and a backpack as he was leaving.
Inside the backpack police found what turned out to be an “inert device” that was hooked up to a cellphone with wires sticking out of it. The bomb squad was called to the scene and determined the device was safe.
In order to search for the suspect, a shelter in place was put into effect for the area around the hospital. The shelter in place was lifted around 10:45 a.m.
Officers from the Lockport Police Department, Niagara County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police and Border Patrol assisted in the search. Border Patrol used their helicopter to aid in the search for the suspect.
No one was injured during the robbery.
Police said Kibler would be arraigned Monday morning in the City of Lockport Court before the Hon. Judge William Watson. He's being held on $500,000 bail.
Watch the entire press conference here.
The full statement from Eastern Niagara Hospital can be read here:
Eastern Niagara Hospital (ENH) appreciates the very professional and appropriate responses by the staff in its Emergency Department this morning at the time of the incident. Their actions were commendable.ENH confirms the ED staff provided the man, who was armed, with a limited amount of drugs. There were no shots fired in the Hospital facility.
The Hospital wishes to convey to the public that all patients and staff at the facility are safe. Ambulances are on diversion at this time. The police are continuing to look for the man in the City of Lockport.
The Hospital appreciates the timely and thorough response that has been demonstrated by the City of Lockport Police, Niagara County Sheriff’s Department and all other first responders with this matter.Eastern Niagara Hospital. Police stationed around the area and a helicopter is circling overhead. @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/0rtNBhU3Fi
— J.T. Messinger (@JTMessinger) May 7, 2016