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Dallas hospital to add more security after shooting

Two employees were fatally shot near the labor and delivery area on the fourth floor of Methodist Hospital.

DALLAS — Officials with Dallas Methodist Hospital said they will be adding more security at the hospital after the tragedy on Saturday morning.

Two hospital employees were killed near the mother-baby area on the fourth floor.

While the hospital is adding more security, the mood at the hospital is somber. Hospital staff and visitors are trying to make sense of how and why this happened. 

From the outside of Dallas Methodist Hospital, life looks to be operating as normal. But hearts are broken inside.

“It’s frightening. You really didn’t talk to anyone about what happened. You saw it on the news,” said Bill Betzen. He brings his friend ice cream at the hospital every night. 

When he walked up on Sunday night, it felt different to him.

“To find out two people died, to find out that one of them was a social worker, that hits me at home, because I’m a social worker,” said Betzen.

Police said two hospital employees -- social worker Jacqueline Pokuaa, 45, and nurse Annette Flowers, 63 -- died at the scene near the mother-baby area on the fourth floor. 

Police charged 30-year-old Nestor Hernandez with capital murder.

“You never know what you’re going to walk into. This was tragic,” said Betzen. He’s now hoping for change when it comes to guns at the hospital.

WFAA spoke with one Methodist Hospital employee about losing her friend and fellow nurse, Flowers.

"She was a great caring nurse who loved her job," the nurse said. "She loved her daughters and grandbabies. She recently renovated her house and was looking forward to retirement. She loved her Dr Pepper and Nutter Butter."

Hospital visitors talked about the violence inside of a place that’s meant to save lives.

RELATED: Who is Nestor Hernandez, the man charged with capital murder in the fatal shootings of two Methodist Hospital employees?

“Texas has a problem with guns, everybody on the street can have a gun,” said Betzen. He hopes people will be searched as they go to a hospital for safety measures.

After Saturday’s shooting, Methodist Hospital said it will have more security on campus and active shooter training for all staff.

"Since Saturday's shooting, and out of an abundance of caution, police force staffing has been increased on the Methodist Dallas Medical Center campus, including for mothers and babies," the hospital said in a statement.

"This is a good place, even at good places things can happen," said Betzen. "It’s a tragedy."

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