Man charged in Jefferson hospital killing

Charges have been filed against a Jefferson University Hospital employee who killed a co-worker and shot two police officers, authorities said Tuesday.

Stacey Hayes, 55, who lives in Overbrook Park, allegedly killed 43-year-old Anrae James, fled the Center City hospital in a U-Haul truck and exchanged gunfire with police outside a high school in West Philadelphia.

He is being charged with murder, four counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, weapons violations and other crimes.

James, a certified nursing assistant from Elkins Park, was shot several times on the 9th floor of the hospital just before 12:15 a.m. Monday and died about an hour later, according to police.

Investigators have not publicly discussed a motive in the case, though they have said James was targeted.

Legal representation for Hayes could not be identified Tuesday.

Four officers in the Parkside neighborhood were directed to Hayes, who was allegedly carrying a rifle and outfitted with body armor, at around 1:30 a.m. Monday in the rear schoolyard of the School of the Future.

Police said Hayes was firing the gun into the air when the officers ordered him to drop the weapon multiple times. Instead, he allegedly turned the rifle at them and opened fire.

One of the officers was struck in the right arm and hospitalized in serious condition, while another was grazed in the nose. Both are expected to recover.

Hayes was shot in the collarbone area and transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in critical condition, according to authorities.