Families, friends gather at hospital in Bemidji

By Kelly Custer

Pioneer Staff Writer

Romelle Benaise was one of many people waiting outside North Country Regional Hospital in Bemidji late Monday afternoon to hear news of relatives or friends who were wounded in the Red Lake High School shooting earlier in the day.

An extended family relative of Benaise had been wounded in the hip, but she declined to give his name.

Others were clustered in groups, a few crying, some sharing hugs and talking quietly. A number of people were talking on cell phones. Three yellow school buses were parked and running outside the Peak Performance entrance, available for people to warm up in.

Hospital Chaplain Mark Papke-Larson huddled with a family briefly before heading back into the building.

The hospital secured its main entrance as a precautionary measure following the arrival of Red Lake shooting victims to its emergency room.

Two victims who arrived at NCRH were airlifted to Fargo for treatment; three of them were admitted to the hospital; and one was reported dead. All were male and under the age of 18, according to Sherri Birkeland, hospital representative. All had gunshot wounds. “We’ve never had a situation like this. It’s horrific for the community,” Birkeland said during a press conference.

Most victims arrived via ambulance. A blue LifeLink helicopter touched down at the west entrance and a gurney was quickly wheeled in. Security only allowed immediate family members of victims to enter through the Peak Performance outpatient rehabilitation entrance.

Additional staff were called in to assist as the emergency room geared up, Birkeland said. Other hospital staff on shift were asked to stay until more was known. Some clustered around two matching televisions mounted in the east entrance waiting for TV news updates.

Security guards were stationed in and outside of the east entrance, in pairs, directing traffic to a side door where another security guard was stationed.

Visitors of other hospitalized patients, unrelated to the shooting, were allowed into the hospital after security identified them.