Armed Houston man carjacked an ambulance with injured teen inside, cops say

An armed man carjacked a Houston ambulance with an injured teen inside, but police say they ended the joyride and put the suspect in cuffs.

Medics responded to a report of a 16-year-old girl hit by a car as she crossed Fairdale Street near Chimney Rock around 2:30 a.m. July 23, according to ABC 13 News. 

According to the Houston Fire Department, the ambulance was transporting a patient when Brandon Warren, 43, reportedly opened fire, forcing the unit to stop around 3 a.m.

Houston police said Warren allegedly threatened the EMT driving the ambulance and ordered them out of the driver's seat. Police said he then drove off with another EMT still in the back with the patient.

Houston Fire Department Chief Samuel Peña said the EMT in the ambulance realized something was wrong and saw Warren behind the wheel as she looked through the window into the cab. Peña told KHOU 11 News Warren allegedly pointed the gun at the EMT, who returned to treating the patient. Officials said the EMT called for help as the ambulance made its way onto Highway 288 and the Southwest Freeway.

Police found the ambulance via GPS and apprehended Warren without further problems.

“Southwest and Southeast officers just recovered a stolen HFD Ambulance at Southwest Freeway and Weslayan. HFD was transporting a patient to the hospital when a car ran the ambulance off the road and took the ambulance at gunpoint. One firefighter was left on the side of the road,” The Houston Police said in a Tweet.

“The suspect then drove off with the patient and second firefighter in the back. Officers located the vehicle via GPS and took the armed suspect into custody without incident.”

Both the EMT and the patient were shaken up, but ultimately unharmed.

Warren was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and felony evading arrest.

Warren did not appear in court on July 23, but a judge set his bond at $500,000 for aggravated kidnapping, $500,000 for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, $500,000 for aggravated assault and $50,000 for evading arrest, according to Click2Houston.com.