Police said the suspect chased several people before two victims were wounded.
HOUSTON, Texas — A married couple was hospitalized after police said a knife-wielding suspect chased people and stabbed them Wednesday night outside an apartment complex in southeast Houston.
The attack happened around 9 p.m. May 13 in the 8600 block of Broadway, near Rockhill Street. Houston police said the violence began near a convenience store, then moved into a nearby apartment complex where several residents ran for safety. Investigators said the suspect was taken into custody at the scene, and police were working with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office on possible charges.
Police said the suspect first caused a disturbance outside the convenience store and chased a man with a knife. The man escaped without injury. The suspect then walked into the apartment complex, where witnesses said people were already running before anyone was stabbed. Lt. R. Willkens with the Houston Police Department said the suspect also threatened a mother and her 7-year-old child, telling them she would stab them if they did not run. The mother and child reached an apartment safely and were not hurt.
Moments later, police said the suspect came across four people outside the complex. Two escaped, but a 42-year-old woman and her 69-year-old husband were stabbed. Willkens said the woman was stabbed three times in the stomach. He said her husband was stabbed twice in the stomach and once in the back. Despite their injuries, both victims made it upstairs to their apartment, where relatives called 911. Their names and conditions were not released Thursday morning.
Investigators said the suspect was detained without further incident after officers arrived. Police initially described the suspect as a woman in her 40s, though at least one later report said investigators identified the suspect as a teenage girl. Authorities had not publicly released the suspect’s name. Police said they were still reviewing the suspect’s mental state and whether a medical issue may have played a role.
Willkens said the suspect appeared to be in crisis after the arrest. “She was obviously in some kind of crisis,” he said. Police said the suspect told officers she had been taking seizure medication, though investigators had not confirmed what effect, if any, that had on the attack. Officials also had not said whether the suspect lived at the complex, nearby or elsewhere.
The case remained active Thursday as detectives worked to confirm the full timeline, interview witnesses and decide what charges may be filed. Police had not announced a court date, bond amount or final charging decision. The next major update is expected after prosecutors review the evidence and the victims’ medical conditions are confirmed.
Author note: Last updated May 14, 2026.