TEXARKANA, Texas -The gun a man carried into a local hospital on Sunday night was not a firearm, according to police.
The gun, which was found Monday morning at Wadley Regional Medical Center, was described as a pellet gun, said Texarkana Texas Police Department Sgt. Kim Weaver.
The suspect, Donte Henderson, 24, has been arrested on charges of interference with public duties and false alarm or report of emergency, Weaver said. The false alarm charge stems from Henderson allegedly pulling an emergency alarm inside the hospital.
Police received the call about 8 p.m. Sunday of a man running into Wadley's emergency room with a gun. The hospital went into lockdown.
Henderson reportedly told people waiting in the emergency room that he was being chased before he continued to run through other areas of the hospital. TTPD officers arrested him a short time later.
A person allegedly chasing Henderson was never located, Weaver said.
Police swarmed the hospital and its parking lot after receiving the call but the suspect was apprehended before the SWAT team arrived, Weaver said.
Wadley officials are relieved the incident ended without anyone being injured. It was, however, still a scary experience.
"We are extremely grateful for our law enforcement from both sides of the city, as well as team members, whose calm, brave, quick response ensured the safety of our patients and staff last night," said Shelby Brown, director of marketing and planning for Wadley.
"While fortunately no one was physically harmed in the incident, we are working closely with everyone impacted to provide professional mental and emotional support services as needed," she said.
Brown said she believed the suspect was inside the hospital for less than 15 minutes.