Man committed suicide with gun he sneaked into VA hospital in O'Hara, officials say

A Jefferson Hills man sneaked a gun last week into a Pittsburgh-area Veterans Affairs hospital and used the weapon to kill himself, county officials have confirmed.

VA officials said they are investigating the incident but declined further comment.

First responders found William G. Grant, 73, unresponsive around 3 p.m. Oct. 10 at the H. John Heinz III VA Medical Center in O’Hara, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said. He was pronounced dead at 3:17 p.m. that day.

The medical examiner’s office said Grant suffered a gunshot wound to the head, and his death was ruled a suicide.

VA spokeswoman Shelley Nulph confirmed to the Tribune-Review that “on Oct. 10, an individual was found deceased at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.”

Nulph declined to name the individual or confirm that it was a gun-related incident.

“Because of privacy considerations, we are unable to discuss the details of the investigation at this time,” Nulph said in a prepared statement. “Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the deceased during this time of loss.”

She declined further comment Monday afternoon.

Allegheny County Police investigated the incident. Their spokesman, Jim Madalinsky, said the death wasn’t deemed suspicious.

“Our case is considered closed,” he added.

Allegheny County spokeswoman Amie Downs confirmed Grant was the person “found deceased” at the VA facility.

Officials from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C., did not return calls or emails seeking comment.

It remains unclear what public-safety measures — such as electronic monitors, special door locks, or metal detectors — are in place at the VA’s Aspinwall campus or how Grant got a gun into the hospital.

Nulph said VA officials in Pittsburgh “will review this loss of life to ensure the continued safety of our veteran patients, staff members and visitors.”

“We review the safety of our veterans and staff periodically with our police chief and whenever unique circumstances require additional review and discussion,” Nulph said in an email to the Tribune- Review.

Officials at the O’Hara site are offering counseling to Grant’s family and VA staff affected by the incident, she said.

The H.J Heinz Campus admitted its first patient on Oct. 12, 1925, according to its website. By the late 1940s, the facility was providing inpatient service to about 1,100 veterans.

If you are in crisis, the Lifeline network is available 24/7/365 across the U.S., VA officials said. You can call or text 988 to chat with a trained responder. Veterans should call 988 then press 1 or text 838255.