Man shoots at EMS supervisor who stopped to help with broken-down car in Spring, HCSO says

SPRING, Texas (KTRK) -- A 33-year-old man was taken to a mental health facility after his car broke down and he allegedly started shooting at a paramedic supervisor who stopped to help him Tuesday morning in Spring, officials said.

Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies said at about 4 a.m., an EMS supervisor heading to work happened to drive by a man with his car broken down on Spring Cypress Road.

Deputies said the supervisor stopped and asked if the man needed help, but he got angry.

According to HCSO, other people had reportedly called 911 claiming the man was broken down and chasing cars.

"There was a little bit of an engagement there that just didnt feel right with the supervisor," said Harris County ESD District 11 Manager Jerry Thomas. "He retreated back to his car and called for officers and repositioned his car to help protect the citizen so the car would not get hit."

Investigators say the shooting started as soon as the supervisor got back into his vehicle.

The man fired at the paramedic six times, hitting only his car's bumper and tire, deputies said.

Authorities said the ambulance and Harris County deputies arrived moments after.

That's when the man complied, put down his gun, and calmly agreed to go to the hospital.

Deputies said the man was taken to the hospital and is receiving medical care, but has not been formally charged due to his mental state.

HCSO said the 33-year-old, however, is expected to be charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Deputies said no one was injured in the shooting.

At District 11, somewhere around 15% of paramedics and emts wear bullet proof vests on duty every day.

"The dangers we face today are much more prominent, prevalent, and they occur in a higher frequency than what it was in 1991 when I got into business," Thomas said.

For more on this story, follow Pooja Lodhia on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.