Houston Methodist employee stabbed in Texas Medical Center parking garage

A Houston Methodist employee was stabbed inside Garage 1 on the Houston Methodist campus at 6519 Fannin Street, jolting one of Houston’s most heavily trafficked medical corridors just before the morning rush.

Investigators said the attack happened around 6:47 a.m. on May 11, 2026, as the employee sat in her car. A man approached and stabbed her in the upper body, possibly in the face or neck, before fleeing. Several employees witnessed the assault and rushed to help, giving emergency aid before Houston Fire Department crews and Texas Medical Center police arrived.

The victim, who worked at Houston Methodist’s Research Institute, was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital and later released the same day to recover at home. Hospital officials said she remained in good spirits and appreciated the concern shown by coworkers and the public.

Police did not believe the attack was targeted at the employee or at Houston Methodist, but the suspect remained at large. Authorities described him as a man with a beard wearing a red or orange hoodie, black pants and black sneakers. Roberta Schwartz, Houston Methodist’s chief innovation officer, said the incident did not appear to be a planned attack and thanked the staff members who helped the victim before responders arrived.

The stabbing briefly disrupted operations across the campus. Houston Methodist placed some buildings on lockdown and later increased patrols and security visibility throughout the Texas Medical Center area. Hospital officials said the campus was expected to return to normal security operations the following day.

The attack drew outsized attention because it unfolded in a place that millions of people move through every year. Texas Medical Center says the complex is the largest medical complex in the world, with about 10 million patient encounters annually, more than 120,000 employees, 21 hospitals and 54 million developed square feet. The campus also says it handles more than 750,000 ER visits and more than 180,000 surgeries each year.

Texas Medical Center Police Department says it is accredited by the Texas Police Chiefs Association, a designation tied to its stated focus on crime prevention and safety for patients, healthcare professionals and visitors. Even with that structure in place, the stabbing in a parking garage used by workers, patients and families exposed how quickly a single violent act can rattle confidence in a corridor that depends on constant movement, early shifts and layered security.