COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – A 78-year-old stroke victim was shot to death in her hospital bed, apparently by her husband, who was killed by police at his home later in the day when he ignored warnings to drop his gun, authorities said.

Inge Brown, who had Alzheimer’s disease and was to be placed in a nursing home, was shot twice in the head Tuesday at Mount Carmel East Hospital, Franklin County Coroner Brad Lewis said. Authorities said her 76-year-old husband, Harry, was believed to be the shooter, and they were investigating whether it was a mercy killing.

Authorities also were attempting to discover why the hospital did not report the shooting for more than an hour Tuesday morning.