Tomball medical center standoff ends peacefully Dad surrenders 4 hours after barricading himself inside

Scene outside Tomball Regional Medical Center Saturday. Scene outside Tomball Regional Medical Center Saturday. Photo: Melissa Phillip Photo: Melissa Phillip Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Tomball medical center standoff ends peacefully 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

A man peacefully surrendered to authorities late Saturday night, some four hours after barricading himself inside a Tomball hospital room, distraught over his adult son's medical condition.

Law enforcement officials had surrounded the Tomball Regional Medical Center as they tried to coax out the suspected father, whose son was a patient.

"Whenever you have a situation like this end peacefully, it's always a relief," said Lt. Joe Ambriz, spokesman for the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Despite suspicions that the man was armed, no weapon was found when he surrendered around 10:45 p.m. He was taken into custody, but it's unclear whether he will be charged.

Areas adjacent to the patient's second-floor room had been evacuated, and worried relatives of patients and hospital workers arrived on scene during the hourslong standoff.

The suspect was threatening at first, but a hostage negotiator from the sheriff's office was able to calm him down and no one was hurt, Ambriz said.

Lauren Stucky, who has a relative being treated in the hospital at 605 Holderrieth, waited in her car outside the building after officers told her she could not come inside.

"It's a scary situation because I have a family member in there, and I can't see them," Stucky said. "It's a little stressful because no one really can tell us what's going on, but I'm hoping it's resolved soon for everyone's sake."

The sheriff's office said late Saturday that the incident was not considered a hostage situation, despite earlier concerns. More than a dozen officers from the sheriff's office, Tomball Police Department and Texas Rangers were on the scene.

Allan Diaz, whose wife works in the hospital, arrived after he heard news of the situation, which unfolded around 6:45 p.m.

"I'm worried about my wife," Diaz said. "She called me saying a man ran in waving a gun, and he then ran toward a patient room. She was very tense when she called, and I told her to just stay down and everything will be OK. She says they're on lockdown and OK."

Tomball Regional Medical Center, established in 1976, is situated on a 150-acre campus with 358 licensed beds, including intensive care units.

The hospital includes a cancer treatment center and other speciality centers.