In the early hours of a quiet Friday morning, the emergency room at Charleston Area Medical Center’s General Hospital in Charleston, West Virginia, transformed into a scene of chaos and tragedy. A man, later identified as 46-year-old Peter Delnardo Lilly of Charleston, walked through the hospital’s doors just after midnight on August 8, 2025, seeking treatment for an undisclosed injury or illness. What began as a routine visit to the ER quickly spiraled into a violent confrontation that ended with Lilly’s death at the hands of a Charleston police officer.
According to Charleston Police Chief Scott Dempsey, Lilly’s behavior in the emergency room took a dark turn. As he waited among other patients, his demeanor grew increasingly erratic. Witnesses reported that he became agitated, yelling and displaying aggression toward those around him. The situation escalated when Lilly allegedly locked himself in a bathroom, only to emerge wielding a knife. Chaos erupted as he began lunging at staff and bystanders, his actions sending waves of fear through the crowded waiting room.
In a reckless act of disruption, Lilly reportedly seized a fire extinguisher, spraying its contents across the room and toward unsuspecting patients and staff. The once-orderly ER descended into pandemonium as those present scrambled to de-escalate the situation or flee to safety. “They were trying to calm him down, but it clearly wasn’t working,” Chief Dempsey recounted during a press conference later that day. “At some point, people had to protect themselves by getting out of harm’s way.”
The turning point came when a Charleston police officer arrived on the scene, responding to urgent calls for help. As the officer attempted to confront Lilly and order him to drop the knife, the situation took a perilous turn. An elevator door opened, revealing a hospital employee inside. Lilly, still clutching the knife, entered the elevator and allegedly began attacking the defenseless worker. With no time to hesitate, the officer made a split-second decision and opened fire, striking Lilly. The 46-year-old collapsed to the elevator floor and was later pronounced dead. Miraculously, the hospital employee escaped unharmed.
“Situations like this are extremely chaotic, extremely stressful,” Chief Dempsey said, his voice heavy with the weight of the incident. “Our officers train constantly for moments like these, but no one ever wants to take a life. This was a tragic outcome, but I believe our officer’s quick and deliberate actions saved lives today.” The officer’s identity has not been released, in keeping with standard protocol as the investigation unfolds.
The emergency room, a vital lifeline for the Charleston community, was placed on lockdown for approximately two hours as authorities secured the scene and ensured the safety of patients and staff. The hospital has since resumed normal operations, with a statement from CAMC expressing gratitude to the Charleston Police Department for their swift response. “We are cooperating fully with law enforcement,” the hospital said, directing further inquiries to the police.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with the Charleston Police Department preparing to turn over its findings to the Kanawha County Prosecutor’s Office for review. For now, the city grapples with the aftermath of a night that turned a place of healing into a scene of violence, leaving a community to reflect on the fragility of safety and the split-second decisions that can alter lives forever.