Gunshots rang out at Ben Taub Hospital Thursday after a prisoner allegedly threatened a medical student with a sharp metal object, according to HPD.
A Harris County Sheriff's deputy working at the hospital heard a scream and ran to the suspect's room. The suspect was holding the sharp object to the woman's throat, according to HPD spokesperson Kese Smith.
"He advised the deputy he was going to kill the medical student unless the deputy shot him," Smith said. "It was when the medical student began struggling with him, and he began applying pressure to her throat with that sharp medical object that's when the deputy discharged his duty weapon."
The suspect, identified as 46-year-old Ricky Lynn Hall, was shot twice and underwent surgery.
No one else was hurt.
Evelyn Grenil was inside the hospital when the shooting happened around 10 a.m.
"Everybody just started freaking out and so we were, like, 'What's going on? Oh, somebody's running inside with a gun they're trying to get," Grenil said.
Hickman said Hall had been at Ben Taub since Oct. 1 for treatment of seizures. He was scheduled to be released Thursday.
Hall has a long rap sheet for crimes including assault, robbery, burglary, forgery and DWI. His most recent arrest was for violating probation, according to Hickman.
HPD confirmed Hall was left alone in his room unrestrained. Our calls to Sheriff Ron Hickman's office to find out why were not returned.
Houston police are investigating the shooting.