A woman sitting in a chair with a firearm caused a standoff on the North Freeway, leading to a shutdown of traffic for nearly five hours.
It happened near the 17700 block of the I-45 North Freeway near Cypresswood Drive. Northbound lanes were shut down. I-45 southbound lanes were also shut down.
The situation first unfolded at 1:29 p.m.
Harris County Sheriff’s Office Major Cedrick Collier said the situation involved a 64-year-old woman with a history of mental illness.
The woman was allegedly involved in a car accident where her car struck the back of a semitruck, and she got out of her car with a handgun.
She then began sitting on the southbound lanes of I-45 in a foldable chair.
Just before 6:30 p.m., KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry learned that the woman had surrendered to authorities. Nobody was injured when she was detained, and no force was used to bring her into custody.
The lanes reopened gradually in the hours after the incident was resolved.
“I am greatly appreciative of the community for their patience and this traffic nightmare that occurred,” Major Collier said in a press conference following the conclusion of the standoff. “We had to shut down the freeway in both directions. Thank the public so much for your patience and thank you all for spreading the word, asking the public to stay out of the area while we conduct business."
The woman was transported to a hospital where she is being evaluated.
“The good thing is someone’s mother or grandmother is coming home tonight,” Major Collier added. “Well, maybe not tonight, after she gets some help, but they’re not injured. They’re not dead. We didn’t have to use force to take her into custody. So, she’s able to get the help she needs. And that’s great, that’s a win for everybody.”
