Who is Caitlyn Marie Kaufman? Nashville ICU nurse shot dead on her way to work, police probe mystery gunfire
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Caitlyn Kaufman, a 26-year-old ICU nurse working on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic was shot and killed while driving down Interstate 440 in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday, December 3, according to police sources.
No one has been arrested in connection with the crime yet, the police said, according to a report by The Sun. The police found Kaufman's body just before 9 pm but an initial investigation led them to believe that she was shot between 6 and 6.30 pm. Metro Nashville Police Department said Kaufman was on her way to work for a 7 pm shift at St Thomas West Hospital when someone fired at her gray Mazda SUV.
They have requested the public for information and if they had noticed anything unusual while driving down the highway on the night she was killed.
The gunfire that killed Nashville nurse Caitlyn Kaufman, 26, on I-440 Thursday night likely occurred btwn 6 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. She was on the way to work at St. Thomas West Hospital for a shift that began at 7 p.m. See unusual activity on I-440 Thur evening? Pls call 615-742-7463. https://t.co/9OVWugzast
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) December 4, 2020
According to Daily Mail, a Metro Parks officer stopped around 8.25 pm to inspect why her vehicle was parked on the right shoulder of Interstate 440, assuming it was a single-car crash. When he got out of his car he saw Kaufman in her vehicle, suffering from at least one gunshot wound. The car had bullet holes in it and was still running when the officer found it. Police department spokesman Don Aaron said Kaufman died quickly from her injuries after the officer arrived and called for help.
The victim was from Chicora, Pennsylvania, a small town 50 miles north of Pittsburgh, with a population of just over 1,000. Kaufman was a star diver on her high school and college — Clarion University — swim teams before she began working as an ICU nurse at St Thomas West in December 2018. After the news of her death, the medical community mourned the loss of one of their own.
"The sudden death of such a young nurse is always devastating, but even more so due to senseless violence," the Tennessee Nurses Association said. "These are very emotionally trying times for health care workers. Our deepest condolences go out to Caitlyn's family, friends and colleagues at St Thomas West."
A representative with Ascension Saint Thomas released the following statement to News 2, as mentioned in WKRN.COM. It read: “We are devastated to learn of the tragic and sudden passing of our ICU nurse Caitlyn Kaufman. She was a dedicated and much loved member of our MICU team and a courageous healthcare hero who was graciously called to serve our patients with compassion and kindness. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family, friends, and you, her colleagues, as we all grieve her heartbreaking passing. Ascension Saint Thomas has Chaplains and other support resources available at sites of care for grief counseling.”
Sean Fagan, Clarion University Sports Information Director, in a statement, said, “Clarion University and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is saddened to learn of the tragic loss of Caitlyn Kaufman. Caitlyn embodied all of the characteristics of a model student-athlete while a member of the women’s swimming and diving program. She was a tenacious competitor, a supportive teammate and a dedicated student. Our thoughts remain with Caitlyn’s family, as well as her former teammates and coaches, during this difficult time.”