HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A suspect has been arrested for allegedly pointing a gun at two firefighters during a medical call in southwest Houston, according to the Houston Police Department.
Jaime Marquez, 23, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault against a public servant, authorities said.
The incident happened in the 6000 block of Bissonnet around 11 p.m. on Saturday.
According to police, the firefighters responded to the Ashford Buena Vista Apartments to check on a 23-year-old patient who told officials he was having seizures. The man reportedly began responding confused.
Tonight a @HoustonFire crew was threatened with a gun while on an EMS incident. Fearing for their lives, two Firefighters jumped from a 2nd story balcony stairwell onto the ground, causing injury
— Chief Samuel Peña (@FireChiefofHFD) January 28, 2024
This deadly conduct against 1st responders is outrageous and inexcusable! pic.twitter.com/5kMwmAWJmG
Police said the man asked if he could retrieve a shirt from his room but returned with a weapon described as a loaded firearm and pointed it at the firefighters.
The firefighters, fearing for their lives, ran from the apartment and jumped from a second-floor balcony. One injured his right arm, and the other hurt his face.
Officials said they are expected to be OK after being taken to a local hospital.
Mayor John Whitmire and Houston Firefighters Union president Marty Lancton held a news conference Sunday after talking to the injured firefighters.
“I’ve been in contact with the firefighters, and they’re going to recover,” Whitmire said. “Certainly, they’re shaken and realize what a close call they had. It just demonstrates again that we have a public safety issue in the city of Houston.”
“The biggest thing that they told me was that they were scared,” Lancton said. “Firefighters have emotion and feelings too and they’ve got families and this is a situation you don’t expect, but the credit goes to them.
Marquez is behind bars. He’s scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez posted on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to give well wishes to the first responders.
As if firefighters don’t face enough risk. Our firefighters are there to protect, aid, and rescue citizens. And to hear that they are injured, it’s very troubling. There’s no cause for this. I pray the crew is well. Rt @FireChiefofHFD: https://t.co/gCO5uCX4jQ
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) January 28, 2024
Fire Chief Samuel Peña thanked the Houston Police Department for quickly arresting the suspect in a separate post.
I appreciate @houstonpolice department’s professionalism & quick work in making an arrest. We should expect consequences for perpetrators
— Chief Samuel Peña (@FireChiefofHFD) January 28, 2024
Any form of violence,or threat to the physical safety of public servants is a serious concern. This is not a reality that should be tolerated https://t.co/PP0aZFqyU0
Source :
![Nick Natario Image](https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/10843497_2021-Nick-Natario.jpg)
By Nick Natario