Police say three hospital employees were confronted during an overnight break outside an emergency room.
WARREN, Mich. — A 31-year-old Michigan man is accused of pointing a handgun at three nurses outside a hospital and threatening to shoot them during an early-morning confrontation that police say unfolded while he was arguing with someone on the phone.
Authorities allege Walter Dwhite Smith threatened the nurses outside Henry Ford Hospital in Warren shortly after 1 a.m. on June 3. Prosecutors have since filed multiple weapons-related charges, and Smith remains jailed on a $500,000 bond. The case has drawn attention because the alleged victims were healthcare workers taking a break near the hospital’s emergency department when the encounter occurred.
According to investigators, the incident began after midnight when Smith was seen walking near the hospital’s emergency room ambulance bay. Police said he appeared agitated and was engaged in a heated phone conversation. Three nurses were seated at a table outside the hospital during a work break when they noticed him pacing nearby. As the argument on the phone intensified, Smith allegedly moved closer to the nurses. Police reports state that he shouted statements directed at the person on the call and referenced the nurses during the exchange. Investigators allege he then declared, “I got three nurses here I can shoot,” before the confrontation escalated further. The nurses later told officers they became alarmed by his behavior and believed the situation was becoming increasingly dangerous.
Police said Smith then produced a black handgun and began counting down from six. According to witness statements provided to investigators, he pointed the weapon toward the nurses and warned them not to take another step. The nurses reported fearing they would be shot. Authorities say the confrontation ended abruptly when Smith received another phone call. He allegedly left the area on foot before any shots were fired. One of the nurses contacted 911 after he departed. Warren police officers began searching for the suspect and located him later that day. Officers took him into custody without a reported struggle. Investigators have not publicly identified the nurses, and officials have not indicated whether surveillance footage captured the entire encounter. No injuries were reported.
The allegations emerged against a backdrop of ongoing concerns about violence and threats directed at healthcare workers. Hospitals across the United States have increased security measures in recent years as emergency departments and other medical facilities report incidents involving aggressive patients, visitors and members of the public. In this case, police allege the nurses were not involved in Smith’s phone dispute and were simply taking a routine break when they became part of the confrontation. Court records indicate that Smith had been under federal probation supervision before the incident. Reports state that he had appeared at the Detroit Federal Probation Office on June 2 for a random drug and alcohol screening and allegedly admitted to consuming alcohol days earlier, which was said to violate the terms of his supervision. Authorities have not publicly connected that probation matter to the hospital incident beyond the timeline of events.
Prosecutors charged Smith with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a weapon by a prohibited person, brandishing a weapon in public and three felony-firearm counts. He also faces a charge related to driving without a valid license. Court records show that he remains housed in the Macomb County Jail. Authorities said he is also being held on a detainer from the U.S. Marshals Service, meaning additional federal custody issues could arise if he were released on bond. The criminal case is moving through the Macomb County court system, where prosecutors will seek to establish the facts surrounding the alleged threat. Defense arguments and potential motions have not yet been detailed in public court proceedings.
The episode left healthcare workers shaken, according to accounts provided to investigators. The nurses told police they were spending a brief period outside the hospital when the encounter unfolded. Their statements describe a situation that escalated rapidly from a nearby argument to an alleged armed threat. The incident ended without physical harm, but authorities said the workers believed they were in immediate danger when the gun was displayed. Hospital staff members routinely use outdoor break areas during overnight shifts, making the location a familiar part of daily operations. Investigators continue reviewing evidence and witness accounts as the case proceeds. The allegations remain accusations, and Smith is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The case remains pending, with Smith scheduled to return to court on June 25. Prosecutors and investigators are expected to continue presenting evidence as the proceedings move forward and the court determines the next steps in the criminal case.
Author note: Last updated June 22, 2026.