Houston firefighters jump off 2nd-floor balcony to escape patient who pulled gun on them, HPD says

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.

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.

Fire Chief Samuel Peña thanked the Houston Police Department for quickly arresting the suspect in a separate post.

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