Man Is Shot in Hospital While Seeking Treatment for Mental Illness
How does a hospital patient seeking help turn into a criminal?
That's exactly what happened to Alan Pean when he encountered off-duty Houston police officers who were working as hospital security guards at the St. Joseph Medical Center last Thursday, Fusion reports.
The University of Houston student took himself to the hospital after experiencing a mental health episode. After entering the medical facility, the 26-year-old went into a second episode and that is when the security guards and Pean engaged in a violent struggle. One officer then shot Pean in the chest.
He is now being treated for the gunshot wound in an intensive care unit.
Pean also faces two counts of aggravated assault on the officers.
A petition has been created by fellow University of Houston students and doctors expressing outrage over the shooting and the police brutality that Pean experienced.
"As doctors and medical students, as nurses and care partners, we are trained in how to safely restrain and tranquilize patients, no matter how aggressive, or irritable, or anxious, or threatening they may be," the document read.
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(Photo: KHOU 11 Houston)