A doctor carried out a murder-suicide at a pediatrician’s office in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, police say, adding that the man had recently been turned down for a volunteer position at the facility.
Police say that Dr. Bharat Narumanchi took hostages at the Children’s Medical Group and that while several people managed to escape or were let go, Dr. Katherine Lindley Dodson was killed inside the office.
The suspect had terminal cancer and had only been given weeks to live, Austin police Lt. Jeff Greenwalt said in a briefing Wednesday.
“So we feel like his terminal cancer probably played a large part in whatever it was that occurred in his life and what was happening yesterday,” he added.
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But for now, Greenwalt said, investigators are still trying to unravel what could have led to the hostage situation. He called for any of the doctor’s family and friends who might have knowledge about Narumanchi to contact the homicide department.
Police were told around 4:30 p.m. local time that a man with a gun had entered a pediatric center and taken people hostage, Greenwalt said.Article continues after sponsor message.
“There were five people inside the building when the suspect arrived,” Greenwalt said, adding that they were all employees and no children or patients were present when the chaos began.
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