When the first 911 call hit the Troy Police Department at 7:08 a.m. on March 20, 2025, the vibe in the city shifted instantly. You’ve probably seen the headlines about the Corewell Health Troy shooting, but the clinical news reports often miss the raw tension of those three hours when nobody knew if an active killer was stalking the halls of a major hospital. It wasn't just a "police incident." It was a morning that left healthcare workers hiding in closets and patients wondering if they should even show up for their appointments.
Honestly, the term "active shooter" is terrifying for a reason.
Within minutes, the Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital campus on Dequindre Road was swarming with over 100 officers. We’re talking local Troy police, Michigan State Police, the FBI, and even the ATF. For a while, the suspect was in the wind.
The Reality Behind the Chaos
People think these things are always random, but this one was deeply personal. This wasn't a stranger wandering in to cause mayhem. It was a targeted attack between two guys who used to be best friends.
Tyler Matoin, a 25-year-old radiology employee, was just pulling into the parking garage for his shift. He was followed. Five shots were fired. Three of those bullets slammed into his car, and two hit him in the arm. He didn’t call 911—he literally ran for his life into the emergency department while bleeding.
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The shooter? Robert Paljusevic, a 21-year-old coworker.
They worked the overnight shift together in radiology. They were so close they adjusted their schedules to work the same hours. Matoin even said he viewed Paljusevic like a brother. But things got weird fast. After Matoin’s father passed away, the friendship soured into something dark and obsessive.
Why the Relationship Spiraled
- The Interrogation: In January 2025, Paljusevic allegedly confronted Matoin in the breakroom, demanding to know who he was texting. It was a nurse. Paljusevic didn't like that.
- The Prayer Card Incident: This is the part that sounds like a movie script but is actually in the court records. Matoin gave Paljusevic a prayer card from his father’s funeral. Later, during a FaceTime call, Paljusevic allegedly filmed himself urinating on that card and flushing it.
- The Workday Harassment: It wasn't just big gestures of hate. It was the small stuff. Matoin would write fun facts on a whiteboard to boost morale; Paljusevic would immediately erase them.
“I should have taken this more seriously,” Matoin later testified. That’s a heavy thing to say when you’re looking at the guy who put two bullets in you.
The Manhunt and the Lockdown
While Matoin was being treated in the ER, Troy was on edge. The hospital went into a "Run, Hide, Fight" lockdown. Nearby schools and daycares hit the "soft lockdown" button. You can imagine the parents in Troy and Sterling Heights frantically checking their phones.
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The suspect didn't stay at the hospital. He fled to Macomb County.
Police used everything—helicopters, drones, K9 units. By 9:30 a.m., they tracked Paljusevic to a home on Breezeway Drive in Macomb Township. He surrendered without a fight. By noon, the hospital was trying to get back to "normal," but how do you return to normal when a coworker just opened fire in the garage?
What This Means for Hospital Security
This incident at Corewell Health Troy highlights a massive problem: violence against healthcare workers. Studies show they are five times more likely to experience violence on the job than other professions. Usually, we think of that violence coming from patients or stressed-out families. This time, the threat was sitting in the breakroom.
The legal fallout has been significant. Paljusevic was charged with assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. During the investigation, police also allegedly found child sexually abusive material on his phone, adding even more weight to his legal troubles.
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Lessons We Can't Ignore
We have to look at the warning signs. The "fun fact" whiteboard erasures and the breakroom interrogations weren't just "annoying coworker" behavior. They were red flags of escalation.
If you or someone you know is dealing with workplace harassment that feels like it's veering into obsession, don't just "shrug it off."
- Document Everything: Every weird text, every "accidental" confrontation in the parking lot.
- Report to HR and Security: Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing. If the environment feels unsafe, the security team needs a paper trail before a gun is ever drawn.
- Trust the Gut: Matoin felt uncomfortable weeks before the shooting. If you feel "interrogated" or "watched," you probably are.
The Corewell Health Troy shooting wasn't a failure of the police response—they were there in under five minutes—but it was a wake-up call about how personal beefs can turn into public tragedies.
Next time you hear about a "targeted incident," remember it’s rarely just a one-day event. It’s usually the end of a long, messy road of ignored warnings. Stay aware of your surroundings, especially in "safe" zones like employee parking structures.
Take Action: If you work in a high-stress environment like healthcare, review your facility's "Run, Hide, Fight" protocols today. Don't wait for an alert on your phone to know where the nearest exit or lockable room is located.