DCH Health System Leaders Address Grieving Employees After Shooting Death Of Nurse

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Leaders at DCH Health System addressed employees in a video message Wednesday following the fatal shooting of a nurse, Ada Chapman Doss, in a parking lot at DCH Regional Medical Center.

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In the message sent to employees, DCH Chief Nursing Officer Dawn Alexander and Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Miller spoke directly to staff members still grieving in the aftermath of Tuesday’s deadly shooting.

“We’re friends and neighbors taking care of friends and neighbors,” Dr. Miller said. “Our job is, and will remain, to take the very best care of our community. We feel your frustrations. We feel your anxiety.”

As Patch previously reported, Doss was shot and killed during an alleged attempted robbery in what investigators have described as a random act of violence by a man suffering from mental illness.

Mathew James Taylor, 41, has been charged with capital murder for killing Doss and remains in the Tuscaloosa County Jail without bond.

Investigators said Taylor had reportedly been dropped off at the hospital earlier in the day seeking mental health treatment but never entered the facility before the shooting occurred.

The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit also said video evidence and witness statements indicate Taylor also attempted unsuccessfully to rob another person minutes before the fatal encounter with Doss.

“Yesterday, we experienced an unimaginable loss here at the DCH family,” Alexander said. “One of our own, Ada Doss, who was more than just an employee. She was a mom, a wife, a colleague, a friend. And no one should have to experience that in their lifetime.”

Alexander said hospital employees and leadership alike are “reeling and grieving and heartbroken” following the incident.

The message also acknowledged concerns among employees in the wake of the shooting, with Alexander encouraging staff to provide input about security and communication moving forward.

“We welcome your feedback and we want to make sure that you know our number one priority is to make sure that you feel safe at DCH," she said.

Patch reported earlier Wednesday when DCH Health System CEO Katrina Keefer said the hospital system continues to mourn Doss' death while supporting employees affected by the tragedy.

“We are all grieving today," she said. "Ada Doss was a member of our DCH family. We have our pastoral care team available, and we have brought in our crisis counseling teams to help any employees who need these services. We are in this together.

She also said the tragic incident was the result of a mental health crisis that could have taken place anywhere.

"An unhealthy man did a horrific thing, and I know we all feel fear and anxiety right now," Keefer said. "We have heightened security measures to ensure all of our employees feel safe — escorts to cars, police presence, enhanced lights, shuttle services, and we will continue to look for ways to make sure our caregivers and patients feel safe at DCH."

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