Patient reportedly shoots surgeon dead in exam room’

A 29-year old patient reportedly shot a surgeon to death in an examination room in a targeted attack.

Larry Pickens, reportedly waited for surgeon Dr Benjamin Mauck for ‘several hours’ at the Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics, according to Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane.

Pickens is accused of firing a handgun at Mauck and then running out.

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Cops arrived at the scene shortly after 2pm on Tuesday and took Pickens into custody without incident minutes later at the entrance of the clinic in Collierville, Tennessee.

The motive was not immediately clear, but cops said Mauck was targeted.

‘It’s bad. It’s horrific. It’s terrible,’ said Lane, according to WMBF.

Police on Wednesday morning identified Pickens, of Memphis, and said he has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault.

‘The Collierville Police Department would like to send our condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of Dr Benjamin Mauck,’ wrote Major David Townsend. ‘Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.’

Mauck specialized in elbow, hand and wrist surgeries, according to his Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics biography. He joined the staff in August 2012 and practiced in Collierville, Germantown and Wolf River.

Mauck is survived by his wife Rhiannon and their two children.