Houston Police: Unconfirmed Statement Triggered Response to Active Shooter

HOUSTON, TX -- The report of an active shooting situation that prompted a massive police response to Ben Taub Hospital Tuesday afternoon, may have been triggered because of something unsubstantiated that someone overheard.

Officials with the Houston Police Department said Wednesday they’ve interviewed all potential witnesses and are confident the claims of an active shooter that prompted an evacuation, and a tense and methodical search of the building, started as a result of an overheard and non-confirmed comment or conversation, HPD Spokesman Victor Senties said.

At 1:58 p.m. Tuesday, the Houston Police and SWAT responded to a report of an active shooter at Ben Taub Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. (For news updates on this story and other Houston news, just click here to get Patch's daily newsletter and free, real-time news alerts).

The hospital was placed in lockdown as patients and staff were evacuated from the first two floors,.

About an hour into the incident, police announced they are evacuating the remaining four floors of the facility.

Police also began a methodical search of the hospital's six floors, and were not able to locate a suspect, or any evidence there’d been a shooting incident.

However, several witnesses told police investigators they'd heard someone demanding someone else drop the gun, and then two gunshots, which is perplexing to Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, who indicated there has to be a concrete reason.

"It wasn't a mistake,” he said Tuesday. “There was a specific reason [for the police response]."

By 4:30 p.m., the all clear was given by SWAT and patients and staff were allowed to return to the hospital.

Image: Shutterstock

Don’t forget to like the Houston Patch Facebook Page