The cardiologist who treated former PresidentGeorge H. W. Bushmay have been targeted when he wasfatally shot last weekwhile riding his bicycle to work in broad daylight, Houston’s police chief said Wednesday.
Chief Art Acevedotold CNNon Thursday that investigators are still not certain of the motive, but that he’s confident police will make an arrest in the case because there were several witnesses to the shooting.
The cardiologist, 65, was pronounced dead at Ben Taub General Hospital.
Bush, 94, released a statement through spokesman Jim McGrath upon hearing of Hausknecht’s death, saying he was “deeply saddened.”
The former president “sends his most sincere condolences to the Hausknecht family, his colleagues at Houston Methodist, and his friends.”
Houston Police Department
“Mark was a fantastic cardiologist and a good man,” Bush said in the statement. “I will always be grateful for his exceptional, compassionate care. His family is in our prayers.”
Surveillance footage shows Hausknecht and the suspect before the shooting. They were each riding their bicycles on South Main Street, in Houston police said. At one point, the suspect began following the physician as both pedaled north.
A surveillance image of the suspect shows him wearing a blue short-sleeve polo shirt, a khaki or white cap and khaki shorts. He was carrying a dark green backpack.
“We are actively looking for a suspect,” Executive Assistant Police Chief Troy Finner said during a press conference. “A good thing about the medical center is that there are a lot of cameras. We’re hoping that we can get some footage of this and bring this violent criminal into custody.”
“In any big city, crime can happen at any time. The most important thing is we have to watch out for one another. If you see something, say something,” Finner added.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.
source: people.com
