Police said a man was taken into custody hours after the assault near Houston’s Theater District.
HOUSTON, TX — A 28-year-old woman was hospitalized Thursday after police said a man choked and assaulted her shortly after she arrived at a downtown Houston parking garage, prompting a search that ended hours later with a person of interest in custody.
The attack was reported about 9:10 a.m. in the 600 block of Travis Street, near Houston’s Theater District and several major office towers. Houston police said the woman survived the assault and was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Investigators said a 23-year-old man who was described by police as homeless was later detained near Main Street and McGowen Street.
Police said the woman had just arrived at the garage when the man approached her. Investigators said he choked her and physically assaulted her, and that she lost consciousness at one point during the attack. After she woke up, police said, she fought back, broke free and alerted nearby security personnel. Dispatch audio indicated that someone called 911 after hearing a woman screaming inside the garage.
An officer working an extra job at the location heard the dispatch and began looking for the attacker, according to police. Investigators said the woman told officers that the suspect drove her vehicle to the second level of the garage before fleeing on foot. Her vehicle was later towed from the scene about 1:15 p.m. Police did not immediately release the woman’s name, the suspect’s name or a detailed description of the charges that may be filed.
The garage sits in a busy downtown corridor where office workers, visitors and theater patrons often park during the day. The 600 block of Travis Street is near several large commercial buildings and a short walk from the Theater District. Police activity drew attention from workers and security staff as investigators reviewed the scene and searched for the man believed to be responsible.
Law enforcement sources told local reporters they were familiar with the man from previous encounters in the area. Police later said a person of interest had been located and detained near Main Street and McGowen Street, southeast of the garage. Officials had not said by Thursday evening whether investigators believed the woman and the man knew each other before the attack. The motive also remained unknown.
The building’s management said security and on-site law enforcement responded quickly after the attack was reported. “We are aware of the incident that occurred in the parking garage this morning,” the property said in a statement. “Security and on-site law enforcement responded immediately, and we are cooperating fully with the Houston Police Department in its investigation.”
The assault comes after other recent violent incidents reported in Houston-area parking garages, including a May attack in the Texas Medical Center in which a worker was stabbed and later filed a lawsuit over security conditions. Those cases involved different locations and suspects, and police have not linked them to Thursday’s downtown assault. Still, the latest attack renewed attention on garage security in areas where thousands of people park for work, medical visits and events.
Police continued reviewing the downtown case Thursday, including the woman’s account, security response and any available video from the garage. Investigators had not announced formal charges by Thursday evening. The woman remained hospitalized with injuries described as non-life-threatening, and the detained man was expected to be questioned as the case moved forward.
Author note: Last updated July 2, 2026.