Cardiac surgeon dies after shooting at Boston hospital; suspect dead

BOSTON -- Boston Police said the cardiac surgeon who was shot at Brigham and Women's Hospital Tuesday morning has died.

Dr. Michael Davidson, 44, was shot twice inside the Shapiro building, where the cardiovascular unit is located, at about 11 a.m. He suffered life-threatening injuries and was later pronounced dead.

The suspected gunman, identified as 55-year-old Stephen Pasceri of Millbury, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, CBS Boston reported.

"During the course of the investigation, officers spoke to several witnesses who stated that the suspect entered the Shapiro Building and asked to speak with a specific doctor employed by the hospital," the Boston Police Department said in a statement Tuesday night. "Investigators believe that at some point during his meeting with that doctor, Pasceri produced a firearm and shot the victim."

The relationship between the suspect and the victim was unknown, police said. Sources told CBS Boston the motive may have been related to the care Pasceri's mother received from the doctor.

"There was a particular reason why he targeted this doctor," Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said. "Why and for what particular reason, we're looking into."

Davidson, who lived in Wellesley, was the director of Endovascular Cardiac Surgery and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.

"Dr. Davidson was a wonderful and inspiring cardiac surgeon who devoted his career to saving lives and improving the quality of life of every patient he cared for," Brigham and Women's Hospital said in a statement. "It is truly devastating that his own life was taken in this horrible manner."

There are no metal detectors at Brigham and Women's, a hospital spokeswoman said, adding she believed other Boston hospitals do not use them either.