The employee was attacked Monday morning in Texas Medical Center Garage 1 on Fannin Street.
HOUSTON, TX — Houston police searched Tuesday for a man accused of stabbing and robbing a Houston Methodist employee inside a Texas Medical Center parking garage Monday morning, an attack that led to temporary lockdowns on part of the hospital campus.
The woman was found injured inside her vehicle on the fifth floor of Texas Medical Center Garage 1 at 6519 Fannin Street, police and hospital officials said. The case is being investigated by the Houston Police Department, with help from Texas Medical Center police and other law enforcement agencies. Authorities said the suspect had not been caught as of Tuesday, and police released surveillance images as they worked to identify him.
The attack was reported around 6:47 a.m. Monday, as the employee had parked and was heading into work, investigators said. Police said she was stabbed in the upper body during a robbery. Houston Methodist said the employee was taken to a nearby emergency department after the assault. “An incident occurred early this morning in TMC Garage 1 and is currently under police investigation,” the hospital said in a statement. “A Houston Methodist employee was assaulted and is now being treated at a nearby emergency department.”
Houston police later released images of a man they said was sought in the stabbing and robbery. Investigators described him as a Black man with a beard who was seen wearing a red or orange Houston Rockets hoodie, black pants, black shoes and a black Adidas backpack. Police said the victim’s cellphone was taken during the robbery, and investigators were trying to track it as part of the search. Authorities have not released the employee’s name. Police also have not said whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The stabbing caused concern across one of Houston’s busiest medical districts, where thousands of patients, workers and visitors move through garages, clinics and hospital towers each day. Houston Methodist said part of its campus was locked down for a short time “out of an abundance of caution.” The hospital said there was no sign of an active or imminent threat to the campus after the attack. Officials said normal operations continued, though security was increased around Garage 1 and nearby buildings.
Hospital officials told employees later Monday that the woman was expected to be released from the hospital. Houston Methodist Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer Roberta L. Schwartz said in a message to staff that the employee was doing well. “We are relieved to share that she is being released from the hospital today,” Schwartz said. She said the employee remained in good spirits and appreciated the support she had received. Officials said several employees saw the attack or its aftermath and helped until emergency crews arrived.
Police investigators spent much of Monday collecting evidence near the victim’s vehicle inside the garage, and the vehicle was towed later in the day. The Houston Police Department’s Major Assaults Division is leading the case. Officials have not announced charges because no arrest has been made. Police said the case remains open and that the released images are part of an effort to identify and locate the man seen on surveillance video.
Workers and visitors in the area described the attack as unsettling because it happened during a busy morning arrival period. Serafi Lopez, who works at Houston Methodist, said an assault on an employee near the hospital felt alarming. “Any employee to get injured in a parking lot here is pretty scary,” Lopez said. Other visitors said they saw a stronger law enforcement presence after the stabbing, including officers and security staff near entrances and parking areas.
As of Tuesday evening, police said the suspect remained at large. The next major step in the case is identifying the man shown in surveillance images and determining whether evidence from the garage, the stolen phone or witness statements leads to an arrest.
Author note: Last updated May 13, 2026.