A new mother and her husband died in a shooting inside the Women’s Medical Center in Homewood.
HOMEWOOD, AL — Police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide after a 24-year-old patient was shot and killed Sunday night inside the Women’s Medical Center at Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, and a 19-year-old visitor later died from what authorities described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The shooting, reported around 9:25 p.m. on March 1, triggered a hospital lockdown and renewed debate about how hospitals screen visitors, especially in units that care for mothers and newborns. Alabama does not require a single statewide hospital security standard, and hospital leaders say safety plans often vary by campus, location and patient population.
Homewood police officers responded to the hospital after reports of shots fired and found a man and a woman dead from gunshot wounds, investigators said. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the woman as Precious Elicia J’anae Johnson of Birmingham and the man as Kynath William Terry Jr. of Midfield. Police described the case as domestic in nature, and officials said no one else was hurt. Hospital leaders said the facility cooperated with investigators and later returned to normal operations.
Officials have released few details about how the shooting unfolded inside the Women’s Medical Center, a part of the hospital that includes labor and delivery services. The coroner’s report listed the injuries as occurring at about 9:22 p.m., and Johnson was pronounced dead minutes later, at 9:29 p.m. Investigators have not said whether the couple’s baby was in the room at the time of the shooting or where the infant was immediately afterward. Police also have not publicly described what kind of handgun was used or how it entered the unit.
The episode has put a harsh spotlight on a basic question hospitals face every day: how to balance open access for families with protection for patients and staff. Danne Howard, president and CEO of the Alabama Hospital Association, said hospitals try to keep people safe while continuing to deliver care. “There are a few places in our world where we should feel safe,” Howard said in remarks after the shooting, adding that hospitals still must respond when violence breaks through those expectations.
Howard said there is no state mandate requiring Alabama hospitals to employ security guards, though many facilities use security staff and layered safety measures. Some hospitals use metal detectors and added screening procedures, depending on the building and the needs of a particular unit, she said. After incidents, hospitals typically conduct after-action reviews to study what worked, what failed and what should change, Howard said. She added that the hospital association can bring hospitals together to share lessons learned and compare best practices across the state.
In reporting on the security question, a WVTM-TV reporter said she was able to walk into the labor and delivery unit without being checked less than a day after the shootings. Hospital leaders declined on-camera interviews about what security steps were in place at the time of the shooting or whether they would add new restrictions. That lack of clarity has fueled questions from residents and from health care workers who say they already face rising threats, especially in high-stress settings like emergency departments and behavioral health units.
City leaders in Homewood said officers moved quickly to secure the building and confirm there was no continuing threat. Mayor Jennifer Andress called it a tragic shooting and said the investigation remained active, directing case-specific questions to police. Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital said it was cooperating fully with investigators. WBRC-TV reported the hospital confirmed Monday morning that the lockdown had ended and the facility was operating normally.
Family members shared a few details about the couple’s recent life, though authorities have not publicly addressed a motive. A WVTM-TV report quoted Terry’s mother as saying the couple had been dealing with marital problems and that Johnson did not want Terry’s family at the hospital when she delivered the baby. The mother said she did not understand how her son could become violent. Officials have not said whether there were prior calls to police, protection orders or other records that might explain what led up to the shooting.
The investigation now moves into a slower phase focused on evidence, timelines and security review. Police have not announced whether they will release surveillance video, visitor logs or a more detailed incident report. Hospital leaders and the Alabama Hospital Association have said they expect to reassess safety plans statewide and consider whether changes are needed, including visitor screening, unit access controls and staffing. Any broader policy shift, including new statewide requirements, would likely involve health systems, lawmakers and regulators and could take months to debate.
Author note: Last updated March 3, 2026.