Derek Shepherd was one of the most beloved characters on Grey’s Anatomy, and his romance with Meredith Grey has become legendary, even to casual viewers. However, in the Season 6 episode Sanctuary, Derek was shot, along with several other people, by a man, Gary Clark, who was suing the hospital for the death of his wife, Alison.
So, what exactly led to the shooting, leading Derek Shepard to fight for his life on an operating table? That’s what we’re about to find out.
It All Started With The Death Of A Woman
When Gary Clark arrives at the hospital with his ailing wife, Alison, he loses her due to her cancer and a stroke she suffers after surgery. She is placed on a ventilator but is brain-dead. Her medical directive states she did not want a ventilator to keep her alive, and the machine is switched off despite her husband’s objections.
Grieving the loss of his wife, he begins to plot against the doctors who let Alison die. Gary then attempts to sue the hospital. With the ongoing lawsuit, he buys a gun and bullets and shoots the doctors he believes allowed his wife to perish. Before he goes to the hospital, he gets into a car accident and shoots the guy he gets into the accident with. The guy, Pete, is then taken to the same hospital Garry shoots up.
The Shooting Spree That Sees Derek Shepherd Shot
When Gary goes on his shooting spree, 18 people are shot, and 11 die. He holds up an Operating Theatre. When he arrives at the hospital, he attempts to get someone to take him to Derek’s office.
Derek Shepherd was one of the doctors who tended to Alison. Others included Lexie Grey, April Kepner, Rebecca Swender and Richard Webber.
The hospital is locked down, but Derek leaves his office, is confronted by Gary and shot. Meredith is horrified, and Cristina Yang saves him.
Gary then goes into his wife’s room and shoots himself, which he prefers over getting arrested.
