The woman, who has a documented history of psychosis and mental illness, then held a handgun to her head, prompting authorities to shut down the highway as a safety precaution.
“It was a very delicate situation throughout the whole ordeal,” Gonzalez explained. “There’s no rationality as far as what’s taken place.”
The woman reportedly expressed suicidal thoughts throughout the standoff. The Houston Chronicle reported that a Crisis Intervention Response Team was dispatched to the scene, working with trained negotiators who eventually built rapport with the woman.
Peaceful Resolution
One key moment in de-escalating the situation came when the woman’s daughter arrived on the scene. Law enforcement allowed the two to speak, a pivotal decision in helping the woman surrender peacefully.
“Once she realized her daughter was here, she was safe, she was going to be allowed to see her again, it got better at that point,” Gonzalez said.
“We saved a life,” added Maj. Cedrick Collier. “The good thing is someone’s mother and grandmother is coming home tonight.”
