HOUSTON — Two firefighters were injured after they jumped from a second-story apartment to get away from a man who pointed a gun at them during an EMS call, according to the Houston Police Department.
It happened around 11 p.m. Saturday on Bissonnet Street between Hillcroft Avenue and Renwick Drive in southwest Houston.
Police said the firefighters were responding to a call about a man reporting that he was having seizures. When they arrived and started asking questions, police said the man's responses sounded confused.
He reportedly asked to grab a shirt before being taken to an area hospital. When he returned from grabbing a shirt, police said he had grabbed a loaded gun and pointed it at the firemen.
"He said something didn’t feel right," Houston Firefighters Association President Marty Lancton said.
"He went to get something out of his room ... still confused. They heard the pistol being cocked and they ran for their lives which included jumping out of a second-story balcony," Houston Mayor John Whitmire said.
That's when they ran from the apartment, jumping from the second story.
"They’re not going to be back up to working speed tomorrow, it takes time. And also, the biggest thing they told me is they were scared. Firefighters have emotions and feelings, too, and they’ve got families, and it’s a situation they don’t expect, but the credit goes to them," Lancton said.
One firefighter suffered a broken scapula and the other had cuts and bruises all over his body. Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña posted on X, formerly Twitter, that both firefighters are expected to be OK. Both firefighters were released from the hospital by Sunday night.
"This deadly conduct against 1st responders is outrageous and inexcusable!" Peña said.
Authorities said 23-year-old Jaime Marquez was taken to jail and is being charged with two counts of assault on a public servant. He's scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
Watch the update police gave at the scene: