Staff photo / Dan Pompili

YOUNGSTOWN — The first police report to be released by the Youngstown Police Department regarding the “incident” that occurred Thursday morning at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital states that the incident began as a “mental health transport/assist.”

But despite reports that it was a shooting and references to the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office being called to the scene, today’s police report only says that when officers arrived, Mercy Health police officers “briefed” Youngstown officers and Youngstown Police Detective Sgt. Dave Sweeney on the incident and “YPD detectives and crime scene Unit responded to further the investigation.”

The report says nothing about anyone being wounded or shot or killed.

When The Vindicator asked Capt. Jason Simon Friday if he could confirm that it involved a fatal shooting, he referred the matter back to Mercy Health again.

The Youngstown police report lists nine officers who responded to what appears to have been a major incident in the city. On Thursday, Simon sent out a press release stating that Youngstown police responded to the hospital “to assist the Mercy Health Police Department with an isolated incident within the facility.”

It said the Youngstown Police Department is handling the investigation, but “No information can be released at this time by YPD; however, there is no danger to the patients at Mercy Health nor the public in general.”

Simon referred additional questions to Erica Blake, Mercy Health spokesperson, who then provided a news release that again mentioned that an “isolated incident” took place, this time stating it happened “in a contained area of St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.”

It specified that it took place in the Emergency Department, and our team responded quickly and appropriately.” It stated that Mercy Health is “actively working on an investigation with the Youngstown Police Department. Our facility remains a safe and secure environment where our teams continue to deliver compassionate care.”

It concluded with “Out of respect for patient privacy, we will not be providing further comment at this time.”

The Vindicator requested additional information today in a voice mail to Blake.