On Friday, Joseph James Pappas, the suspect who was charged Thursday in the killing of Dr. Mark Hausknecht, the cardiologist who once treated President George H.W. Bush, shot and killed himself as police approached him, according to Houston police chief Art Acevedo, as reported by The Houston Chronicle.
On Friday morning, a Parks Board member was checking a graffiti hotspot for possible vandals and saw Pappas. He approached Pappas, who walked away but left his wallet behind. The Parks Board member called after Pappas, who turned and walked away again, but the board member opened the wallet and recognized the name. Then he called police.
Police found Pappas riding a bicycle, wearing body armor under his shirt and holding a snub-nosed revolver in one hand, according to USA Today. One officer ordered Pappas to raise both hands, but when a second police unit arrived, Pappas shot himself in the head, according to Acevedo.
Police had decided Pappas was a suspect days ago, prompting him to avoid his home; police believed he accessed four houses in the area using his real estate agent key, and may have gone camping.
Hausknecht was shot to death on July 20 while riding his bike to work at Texas Medical Center. Pappas reportedly hated Hausknecht because the doctor had operated on Pappas’ mother, who died during surgery.
Police said Pappas sent a text Tuesday morning claiming he was going to kill himself.
Acevedo said there was evidence that Pappas might have worked as a constable in the past and thus had knowledge of firearms. He told reporters, “There was a lot of planning that went into this, and sadly, some skill.”
The Chronicle reported that Pappas left a “Last Will and Testament” in his kitchen, along with three boxes of ammunition in the garage.