Authorities seek motive for gunfight between patient, psychiatrist at Pennsylvania hospital

A hospital worker views police activity around the scene of a shooting Thursday, July 24, 2014, at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Pa. Police in suburban Philadelphia are investigating a shooting at the hospital campus and say they have reports people have been injured and a suspect is in custody. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

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An officer stands guard near the scene of a shooting Thursday, July 24, 2014, at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Pa. A doctor grazed by gunfire from a patient who had entered his office in a suburban hospital's psychiatric unit stopped him by returning fire with his own gun and injuring him, authorities said. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

Investigators work the scene of a shooting Thursday, July 24, 2014, at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Pa. A shooting at the suburban Philadelphia hospital campus has killed one worker and injured two other people. Prosecutor Jack Whelan says one of the injured is the gunman. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

DARBY, Pa. – Authorities hope to learn if a psychiatrist had concerns about a patient who allegedly killed a case worker at a suburban Philadelphia hospital before the doctor pulled out his own gun to protect himself.

Delaware District Attorney Jack Whelan says Dr. Lee Silverman was grazed in the temple as he exchanged gunfire with his patient, 49-year-old Richard Plotts.

Whelan says the case worker killed Thursday afternoon was 53-year-old Theresa Hunt of Philadelphia.

Authorities say Hunt had accompanied Plotts to an appointment with Silverman at a psychiatric crisis center adjacent to Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby.

Whelan says Plotts underwent surgery Thursday night at a Philadelphia hospital. Silverman was treated and released.

Calls to a suburban address listed for Silverman went unanswered late Thursday.