Texas hospital standoff ends peacefully with suspect in custody

HOUSTON -- A tense standoff at Tomball Regional Medical Center came to a peaceful end Saturday night. A man who had barricaded himself inside a room with his son surrendered without incident, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said the man was distraught about his son's medical condition. His threats, say investigators, were enough to require the Harris County Sheriff's Office High Risk Operation Unit to be called in.

The standoff lasted nearly four hours, beginning around 7pm and ending shortly before 11pm with the suspect's surrender. Police say he wasn't armed when he gave himself up.

During the standoff, the second floor at the hospital, which is where this was happening, was evacuated.

Eyewitness News spoke with one woman who was in tears outside the hospital as the standoff was unfolding. She said her daughter is a nurse on the second floor and came face to face with the suspect.

"She just said that she saw a gun and that she took off and tried to get help," said the mother. "It's scary. I just wanted to know where my baby was I thought she was a hostage."

Tomball police, the Texas Rangers, Harris County Precinct 4 and the Harris County Sheriff's Office were all on the scene.

While police negotiated with the suspect, he emergency room at the hospital was not accepting any patients. There were several ambulances set up outside, which were there to treat anyone needing urgent care.

No one was hurt in the standoff.