The gunman who allegedly killed a Tennessee surgeon in an examination room yesterday was identified Wednesday morning as one of his patients, Larry Pickens, by the Collierville Police Department. 

Pickens, 29, of Memphis, has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault in the targeted attack on Dr. Benjamin Mauck at the Campbell Clinic Orthopedics in Collierville, Major David Townsend wrote in a Nextdoor update.

The suspect was a patient at the clinic who was treated a few hours before the incident, Police Chief Dale Lane said, according to WREG Memphis.

Pickens’ bail has been set at $1.2 million. His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.

Although Pickens’ motive remains unclear, Tennessee Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) said Tuesday that a witness accused the shooter of threatening a clinic staffer for a week.

Police previously shared that Mauck’s attacker likely lay in wait for him for “several hours” before firing a handgun and running out of the clinic, where he was apprehended without incident five minutes later.

Lane praised the responding officers for their speedy response to the shooting.

“Again, we’re talking about a guy who ran from a shooting scene, and he’s in custody within five minutes, without additional loss of life, including our team, the suspect,” he told WREG.

Lane also commended those inside the clinic for implementing their active shooter training, the outlet said.

Mauck specialized in elbow, hand and wrist surgery, according to his clinic biography.

He received his medical degree from University of Tennessee-Memphis in 2006, and joined the Campbell Clinic staff six years later.

Mauck, who also worked as a surgeon at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, boasted a 4.9 rating with patients and was named on Memphis Magazine’s 2023 Top Doctor List just last week.

In an interview published last month, Mauck told the magazine that he was inspired to become a doctor after watching his sister recover from a sports injury.

“She had surgery for a torn ACL, and they changed her life for the better,” he said. 

“I thought to myself, ‘What better way to help people than to become a physician?’”

Mauck added that he attended medical school “specifically to become an orthopedic surgeon,” and explained his fascination with hands, in particular.

“The hand is how we interact with the outside world, and when your hand is involved, it affects almost every single thing you do,” he marveled. 

Mauck’s Campbell Clinic colleagues mourned his healing touch in a statement late Tuesday.

“Earlier today, we experienced a single shooter event inside our Collierville clinic. We are shocked and heartbroken to confirm the incident resulted in the tragic loss of one of our highly respected and beloved physicians, Dr. Ben Mauck,” they wrote.

“We appreciate our local law enforcement officers who responded within minutes. We will continue to work closely with authorities as this remains an active investigation.”

Mauck is survived by his wife, Rhiannon Mauck, and two children.

State Sen. Akbari used Mauck’s death as an opportunity to push for gun reform, alleging that Pickens would not have had access to a firearm under stricter regulations.

“Tragedies like this underscore the urgent need for common sense — like reinstating background checks and gun licenses, and establishing new reforms like an order of protection so police can remove firearms from a person who is threatening others,” she said in a statement.

Gun control is top of mind in Tennessee after six people – including three children – were gunned down at a Christian school in Nashville in March.

The state enacted permitless carry of concealed and unconcealed handguns for adults over 21 in 2021, ABC News reported.

Under the law, there are currently no requirements for background checks or gun training for handgun owners the outlet noted.

Rifles and shotguns can also be purchased without a permit by anyone over 18 years old.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.