Visitor pulls handgun on nurse at Rochester General Hospital, no injuries reported

A visitor pulled a loaded handgun on a nurse inside Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, Monroe County, then threatened security staff before dropping the weapon and being taken into custody. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.

Police identified the man as Gregory Strickland, 35. According to reports, he was visiting a patient on the hospital’s fourth floor on Friday, April 3, 2026, when he became upset at a nurse and threatened her with a handgun. He then threatened several hospital security guards, including a peace officer, before surrendering a loaded 9mm Glock to security. One report said the gun contained six rounds.

Rochester Regional Health said the incident was quickly identified and contained. Security personnel detained the armed visitor, police responded promptly and secured the scene, and there was no active threat to patients, visitors or staff as operations continued normally. The case later moved into Rochester City Court, where Strickland pleaded not guilty. Bail was reportedly set at $50,000, and prosecutors said the matter had been presented to a grand jury and was expected to proceed as a felony case.

The episode has intensified pressure on hospital safety measures, especially in settings that must stay open to patients and families around the clock. Dr. Randy Green, Rochester Regional Health’s new president, said April 15 that strengthening security is a top priority and that the incident was not unique to Rochester General. Nurses at the hospital have since called for increased safety measures.

Reports also say Strickland is a felon banned from owning guns, raising questions about how the weapon entered the building in the first place. For hospitals across Central New York, the case is another reminder that visitor screening, rapid security response and clear protocols can be the difference between a contained threat and a far worse outcome.