SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Authorities have expanded their search statewide for a suspect of a shooting at a Louisiana hospital early Wednesday morning, News Nation affiliate KTAL reported.

Shreveport Police said the shooting took place at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – St. Mary Medical Center in the northwest Louisiana city.

Police searched the hospital and surrounding area for the suspect, 41-year-old Taniel Cole. He entered the medical center shortly after 5:30 a.m. (local time) and shot someone he knew in the leg, police said.

Police were not able to completely evacuate the hospital and were considering the scene a possible hostage situation as it was unclear whether Cole was still inside the hospital. They said the suspect was no longer in the hospital around 10:30 a.m. (local time).

SPD Sgt. Angie Wilhite said SWAT and hostage units searched the entire building.

“We expect this to be an hours-long thing, searching this building; it is a very, very large building and we are doing a very slow and methodical search,” said Wilhite. “We’ve had people from the fire department show up to assist us, so we have just about every agency in Northwest Louisiana on the scene assisting us with the search, but we’re still dealing with a monster of a building and who we believe to be a very dangerous person that could be inside.”

All incoming hospital patients were diverted to Oschner LSU Health on Kings Highway. Inpatients will remain sheltered in place and all outpatient procedures have been canceled.

Loyola College Prep, which is located in close proximity to the hospital, canceled classes Wednesday as a safety precaution.

This is a developing story.