Realtor killed in shooting at CoxHealth

Police responded on Saturday night to a shooting inside CoxHealth that left a local real estate agent dead.

Booker Cox Jr., 79, a real estate agent with Foggy River Realty in Hollister, was killed in the incident contained to a single room on the ninth floor of the south Springfield hospital, 3801 S. National Ave. Both Cox and his wife, Carolyn, 69, who was visiting him in the hospital, were found with gunshot wounds, according to a news release from the Springfield Police Department.

Carolyn Cox is being treated and her condition is unknown, the release said.

The police investigation is ongoing. "Initial indications from the follow-up investigation are that Booker Cox Jr.’s wound was self-inflicted. The full circumstances of Carolyn Cox’s shooting have not yet been determined," the police said in a statement.

In a statement provided by hospital spokesman Randy Berger, CoxHealth said it is examining all aspects of the event, including security procedures.

"We want to reassure everyone that CoxHealth’s response to this event was immediate, thorough and appropriate," the statement said. "Staff responded immediately to provide medical treatment, and CoxHealth’s armed and trained security staff responded just as quickly. The facility did not enter lockdown or change patient care operations due to the nature of the incident. This was an unprecedented, isolated incident between two individuals, in one patient room, and no other individuals were at risk.

"The health care environment is one of continuing improvement, and we always want to understand what we can learn from any situation."

Booker Cox Jr. was pronounced dead at 10:09 p.m. on Saturday, according to the police news release. He was licensed as a real estate agent in Missouri and Arkansas and had more than 30 years of experience in the industry, according to FoggyRiver.com. His website biography also indicated he had been married to Carolyn Cox for at least 48 years.