Police said the woman was attacked after parking for work Monday morning.
HOUSTON, TX — A Houston Methodist employee was stabbed and robbed Monday morning inside a Texas Medical Center parking garage, prompting a police search, a large emergency response and short security lockdowns on part of the hospital campus.
The attack drew attention across the busy medical district because it happened as workers were arriving for early shifts at one of Houston’s largest hospital campuses. Houston police said the employee was found on Level 5 of Texas Medical Center Garage 1 at 6519 Fannin Street. Investigators were still looking for the suspect Monday evening, and hospital officials said there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Police said the attack happened about 6:47 a.m. after the employee parked and was preparing to go to work. Officers and emergency crews responded to the garage after 911 calls reported that a woman had been stabbed inside her vehicle. Houston Methodist Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer Roberta L. Schwartz told employees in a message that the worker was doing well and remained in good spirits. “We are relieved to share that she is being released from the hospital today,” Schwartz said. Hospital officials said several employees saw the attack or its aftermath and moved quickly to help the wounded worker before Houston Fire Department crews and police arrived.
Investigators said the woman suffered injuries to her upper body, possibly to her face or neck, and was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital for treatment. Authorities did not release her name. Police said the attack also appeared to include a robbery, and local reports said the woman’s cellphone was stolen. Investigators were working to track the phone as part of the search for the attacker. Houston police released an image of a man they wanted to identify. He was described as a Black man with a beard who was last seen wearing a red or orange hoodie with a Houston Rockets logo, black pants and black tennis shoes. Police had not announced an arrest by Monday night.
The stabbing happened in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, a dense area of hospitals, clinics, research buildings and parking structures used by thousands of workers, patients and visitors each day. Garage 1 sits on Fannin Street near the Houston Methodist campus and other major medical facilities. The morning timing added to concern because many hospital employees arrive before sunrise or during early commute hours. Houston Methodist placed part of its campus under temporary security lockdown as a precaution, but hospital officials said operations continued. The hospital told employees that the attack did not appear to be targeted against the worker or the hospital.
Houston police said the department’s major assaults investigators were handling the case. Officers spent much of Monday collecting evidence in and around the victim’s vehicle before it was towed from the garage later in the day. The University of Texas Police Department in Houston and Texas Medical Center police were also involved in the response. Authorities had not released a motive, and it remained unclear whether the suspect followed the employee into the garage, was already inside the structure or encountered her by chance. Police also had not said whether a weapon had been recovered. The next step in the case is the identification and arrest of the suspect shown in surveillance material.
The attack unsettled workers, patients and visitors who use the medical district daily. Some people arriving for appointments Monday said they were shocked that a violent attack could happen in a garage tied to the hospital campus. “Oh no, I hope she’s alright,” Yolanda Garcia, who parks in the area, said after learning about the stabbing. Brian Smith, whose son was receiving treatment in the Texas Medical Center, said he still felt safe in the area and believed police would find the attacker. Houston Methodist thanked employees who helped the wounded worker and said the hospital remained focused on the safety of staff, patients and visitors.
By Monday night, the employee was expected to leave the hospital, and police were still searching for the man seen in the released image. Investigators had not announced charges, and the case remained open as officers reviewed evidence from the garage and surrounding area.
Author note: Last updated May 11, 2026.