It started in southwest Houston alongside South Loop 610 and Braeswood round 3 a.m.
Medics have been on their strategy to a hospital with a affected person onboard when the person, who was in one other car, compelled the HFD ambulance to cease, based on Houston police. That is when he compelled the motive force out at gunpoint, received in, and drove away.
LISTEN: Gunman radios dispatchers whereas fleeing with EMT and affected person inside HFD ambulance
The person opened hearth on passing autos alongside the freeway, police mentioned, however nobody was hit.
Because the ambulance made its means onto Freeway 288 and Southwest Freeway, the EMT, who was attending to the affected person within the again, realized one thing was flawed and checked on the motive force, who she then discovered was the hijacker, police mentioned. The driving force threatened that EMT with the gun, however authorities mentioned she labored to maintain everybody calm in the course of the ordeal.
“She de-escalated the incident by primarily not panicking,” Houston Fireplace Chief Sam Peña mentioned. “She remained calm all through the incident.”
The EMT alerted dispatchers who have been capable of monitor the ambulance as HPD responded. Officers pursued the ambulance throughout southeast Houston earlier than the motive force headed west and made his means into the southwestern a part of town.
STOLEN AMBULANCE: The person slumped over on this video is accused of stealing an ambulance with a affected person & EMT within the again as they have been attempting to get to the hospital.
This man allegedly pulled a gun and fired pictures at passing automobiles. So scary for all within the ambulance and drivers!! pic.twitter.com/MOdNXzQXXy
— Charly Edsitty (@CharlyABC13) July 23, 2021
Houston police have been capable of drive the gunman to cease the ambulance on Southwest Freeway at Weslayan earlier than he gave up. Officers took the person into custody on the freeway.
Nobody was harmed in the course of the ordeal, and the affected person onboard was capable of be moved to a different ambulance earlier than lastly being taken to the hospital.
The gunman, who was not instantly recognized, was beneath the affect of some form of substance and has a prolonged felony historical past, police mentioned.
WATCH: Breaking information protection of hijacked ambulance on Eyewitness Information This Morning
Within the wake of the chaotic ordeal, Eyewitness Information has discovered the affected person within the ambulance, recognized solely as a feminine, was thought-about a non-priority transport, based on Peña, although particulars in regards to the unique service name was not instantly accessible.
The chief added the ambulance works out of HFD Station No. 2, situated on Woodway close to Bering Drive. The engineer operator of the unit on the time of the theft is an 18-year veteran of the division. The EMT who was contained in the unit because it was hijacked has had a minimum of 10 years of service with HFD.
Eyewitness Information is following the fallout from the hijacking and chase. For updates, observe Miya Shay on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and Charly Edsitty on Facebook and Twitter, and Instagram.
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