A Texas man has been charged with murder and assault with a deadly weapon in the March 16 shooting of two dentists who worked in a Tyler, Texas, dental office, local ABC affiliate KLTV reported.
The suspect, Steven Alexander Smith, 40, of Tyler, is being held on $3 million bond.
Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith told the station his office received a 911 call about the shooting at about 2:45 p.m. When deputies arrived, they found two male victims with gunshot wounds inside Affordable Dentures, he said.
In a statement to the news station, the sheriff's office said an initial investigation revealed the suspect, a patient at the clinic, became angry with the dental office's staff, went to his car and returned with a handgun and shot two doctors who were working inside the business.
He then fled to his residence before being taken into custody about 4 p.m., according to the report.
One victim was in critical condition with life-threatening injuries and the other was taken into emergency surgery, according to the report.
Both dentists, Blake Sinclair, DDS, 59, of Tyler, and Jack Burroughs, DDS, 75, of Tyler have died, according to the sheriff's office.
"We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident and hold Dr. Burroughs and Dr. Sinclair and their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers. Our immediate focus is on supporting our employees, our patients and the families of those impacted by this horrific event. We are grateful to law enforcement for their bravery and professionalism in the face of senseless violence and will do whatever we can to assist them. In the meantime, we request that the public please respect the privacy of those affected," a spokesperson for Affordable Dentures & Implants said.
This report will be updated by Becker's as more information becomes available.