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A man shot and wounded his ex-girlfriend and her coworker before fatally shooting himself in what police characterized as a domestic violence incident in the parking lot of a Berks County the medical center, investigators said.
Police identified the gunman as Xavier Starks. The two victims are his ex and a male coworker who tried to help the woman after Starks confronted her in the parking lot of Digestive Disease Associates, a gastroenterology center on the 1000 block of Reed Avenue in Wyomissing.
“We know that this is a domestic incident. One of the victims was in a relationship with the shooter. The other was just an innocent bystander that was coming to work and then trying to help the coworker,” Wyomissing Police Department Chief John Phillips said. He added that police had had “contact” with the shooter in the past because of domestic violence.
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The shooting happened just before 9 a.m. Thursday in the rear parking lot of the medical center, where Starks approached his ex-girlfriend, who had just arrived to work, and began arguing with her, according to police. The woman's co-worker then arrived and tried to intervene, police said. Starks allegedly pulled out a gun and opened fire, shooting his ex in the neck and face area.
The woman's co-worker then tried to disarm Starks, who fired again, police said. The co-worker was shot in the upper chest area. Starks then pointed the gun at himself and opened fire, dying by suicide, according to investigators.
Starks' ex-partner and her co-worker were both taken to Reading Hospital. Starks' ex-girlfriend was then transferred to Penn Presbyterian Hospital. Officials have not yet revealed her condition. The co-worker remains in critical but stable condition.
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The shooting happened at a time when people were at or arriving to the medical center. A Tower Health spokesperson said the shooting happened near other doctor’s offices, including some associated with Tower Health.
Robert Farkas had an appointment and walked up to the building not knowing that a shooting had taken place.
“We didn’t know anything,” Farkas said. “So we parked the car, went up through the stairs, got to the door and a lady came out and she was crying and visibly upset and told us that there was a shooting behind the building.”
Police continue to investigate the incident but said they are confident there is no further danger to the community. Anyone with additional information on the shooting is asked to call the Wyomissing Police Department at 610-375-6102.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
