Police: Patient shoots, kills orthopedic surgeon in Collierville clinic

COLLIERVILLE, Tenn. (WMC) - Campbell Clinic confirmed late Tuesday night that Dr. Benjamin Mauck, a Memphis hand surgeon, was shot and killed by a patient at their clinic in Collierville on Tuesday.

The shooter was arrested outside the clinic shortly after.

Collierville police have not released the name or age of the accused shooter but did say this was a targeted incident.

“It’s bad. It’s horrific. It’s terrible,” said Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane.

Collierville Police Department was called to the clinic just after 2 p.m. Officers were on the scene within five minutes of the call.

Police at Campbell Clinic in Collierville — Police at Campbell Clinic in Collierville(Action News 5)

Police say a patient fatally shot Dr. Mauck in an exam room.

Officers found the suspect on Poplar Avenue near the entrance of the clinic with a gun on his person. Police say he was taken into custody without incident.

“So, this appears to be a one-on-one interaction that occurred within an exam room,” said Chief Lane. “This was not a mass shooting situation that we experienced at Kroger several years ago, nothing like that.”

In a Tuesday press conference, Chief Lane referenced the September 2021 grocery store shooting that left one Kroger customer dead and 13 others injured.

Collierville police offered active shooter training after that tragedy, and Lane said that training helped the Campbell Clinic staff deal with this horrific event.

“They were practicing what they had been trained,” said Lane, “and folks, that made a difference. It absolutely makes a difference.”

Hours after the shooting, Campbell Clinic identified the victim as Dr. Mauck, an orthopedic surgeon who specialized in elbow, hand and wrist surgeries.

Action News 5 interviewed Dr. Mauck last week for a report on firework-related injuries in children during the Fourth of July holiday.

Dr. Mauck was also just named one of the Top Doctors in Memphis by a nationally recognized group.

“Earlier today, we experienced a single shooter event inside our Collierville clinic.
“We are shocked and heartbroken to confirm the incident resulted in the tragic loss of one of our highly respected and beloved physicians, Dr. Ben Mauck. We ask that you please lift his family in prayer.
“During this difficult time, we will be working through many details and will keep you updated as we are able.
“We have decided to close all Campbell Clinic locations tomorrow, July 12 and will communicate the reopening of all facilities at a later time.
“We appreciate our local law enforcement officers who responded within minutes. We will continue to work closely with authorities as this remains an active investigation.
“Our priorities remain Faith, Family and Patient Care. At this time, we ask for your prayers for the entire Campbell Clinic family, as well as for the privacy of Dr. Mauck’s family.”
Irina Ollar, director of marketing and PR at Campbell Clinic

In addition to working at Campbell Clinic, Dr. Mauck was also on staff at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Trey Eubanks, interim president and surgeon-in-chief at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, sent this statement to his staff in response to the tragic news:

"We were shocked to learn that Campbell Clinic and Le Bonheur surgeon Ben Mauck tragically was killed today at his clinic in Collierville.
"Ben was a friend to so many of us – a respected member of our Le Bonheur family, a beloved colleague and a dedicated physician to so many patients.
"We already miss him.
"His death is an unthinkable tragedy, and I am at loss at what to say. I am so sorry to those who loved and knew him, for those who worked alongside him every day.
"I am also grateful to this team, all of you. And I encourage each of you to be gentle with each other during this time. Ask for support and offer it when needed. We will all be affected by this loss in some way.
"We will schedule debriefings and offering spiritual care and EAP sessions.
"Please keep the entire Campbell Clinic family and especially Ben’s family in your thoughts and prayers."
Dr. Trey Eubanks, interim president, surgeon-in-chief at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital

Investigators have not released a motive for the shooting.

“I would say don’t live your life in fear, ok?” said Chief Lane. “We just have to be observant. Pay attention to our surroundings. Do as the people at Campbell Clinic did today when it began, they reacted the way that they were trained.”

All Campbell Clinic locations will remain closed until further notice.

Tennessee officials say a health care worker was shot and killed by a patient at a clinic on Tuesday. (Source: WMC)

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