Man Shot In Hospital Parking Lot Standoff
POSTED: Monday, March 23, 2009
UPDATED: 4:25 pm CDT March 23, 2009
HOUSTON -- A man was hospitalized after a standoff with police in a hospital parking lot, KPRC Local 2 reported.
Webster police said an injured man was in the parking lot of Clear Lake Regional Medical Center at about 11 p.m. Sunday.
Webster Police Chief Ray Smiley said Steve Moran's father took him to the hospital after Moran had been involved in multiple hit-and-run collisions in Houston.
"The father went inside to summon medical aid," Smiley said. "When the medical aid from inside the hospital went out, the man pointed something at them and told them in language I can't use here that they needed to get away or he would kill them."
Police went to the hospital and tried to negotiate with Moran.
Moran repeatedly threatened to shoot officers, investigators said.
"When the man pointed what they (police officers) felt was a gun at them, they felt like they had to open fire to protect themselves," Smiley said.
Smiley said more than one officer fired shots. Police have not said how many gunshot wounds Moran suffered.
Officers moved in and took Moran into custody. He was stabilized at the hospital before being transferred to Ben Taub Hospital in Houston.
Investigators said Moran did not have a gun. The item turned out to be a flashlight, police said.
"I would have to suspect some sort of mental unbalance in that he threatened to kill people that were trying to assist him," Smiley said.
No officers or hospital staff members were hurt.
"The incident was a tragic situation and our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved," said Santiago Mendoza Jr., the director of business development at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center. "We are cooperating fully with the police in their investigation of the matter."
The Harris County District Attorney's Office is investigating the incident.
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