Police: Good Samaritan stops man on rampage
HOUSTON
Henry Hankston III faces a litany of charges, including aggravated assault, aggravated robbery and failure to stop and render aid, and more could be filed as the investigation continues, police said.
Police said his drug-induced rampage started Tuesday afternoon when he approached a motorist standing outside a house with his friends in southeast Houston. Hankston allegedly beat the group standing outside before jumping into one of their cars and drove off.
Nearly 10 blocks away, Hankston allegedly then hit a car at an intersection on MLK Boulevard and continued driving, police said. Then, he crashed into another two cars at the next intersection, where his car died.
But it didn't end there.
Hankston allegedly got out of the stolen car and jumped on a METRO bus in the 10800 block of MLK and started assaulting the driver in an attempt to steal the bus, police said.
A 49-year-old private security guard driving behind the bus got out of his car to help one of the women involved in the car crash with Hankston.
"He got out to assist her, and the guy jumped at him," said the security guard's mother-in-law, who didn't want to be identified. "He said, 'I'm not trying to fight. I'm armed.'"
But Hankston kept fighting.
"I heard a gunshot from inside the house," resident Jeanette Jones.
The private security guard had shot Hankston once in the abdomen.
Hankston then returned to the stolen car, which had caught fire, and sat inside it until an ambulance came, police said.
"His behavior was that of someone on PCP, very intense and very strong," HPD Sgt. Robert Torres said.
Hankston was transported in stable condition to Ben Taub General Hospital, where he was undergoing surgery.
In all, five people were injured, including the suspect. The bus driver suffered head and facial injuries and was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital.
The private security guard has had his concealed license for at least eight years and has never had to use his gun until Tuesday, his mother-in-law said.
"I know it will bother him but not enough to stop him from doing his job," she said.
The security guard won't face any charges.