NACOGDOCHES POLICE DEPARTMENT
MEDIA INFORMATION
Issued 7-13-2017 2:00 PM CDT
Contact: Sergeant Greg Sowell, PIO- 936.559.2618
At approximately 12:08 pm yesterday, the Nacogdoches Police Department received several calls of a man shooting a pistol in the parking lot of Nacogdoches Medical Center Hospital at 4920 NE Stallings Drive.
Officers responded according to protocol for an active shooter incident. While officers were enroute, callers advised that the man was still in the parking lot with the handgun. Callers stated that the man had fired the handgun twice and was shouting.
The first responding officers arrived on the scene four minutes later. A perimeter was established around the hospital. The hospital enacted their emergency plan and a nearby daycare was told to shelter in place. Northeast Stallings Drive in front of the hospital was closed to traffic, as well as the Stallings Drive exit/entrance to the Wal Mart parking lot.
After a search of the parking lot, the suspect was located on the west side of the hospital. It was determined that the man had discharged a BB pistol that looked like an automatic pistol in the parking lot. Control and all clear was called at 12:25 pm.
The investigation revealed that the suspect was a Medical Center Hospital on medical business and had his dog with him. According to the suspect, the dog was not on a leash and the dog responds to the firing of the BB pistol. He was also shouting at the dog.
The suspect has been identified as Jeffery Warren Whigham, 65 of Milam, Texas. He was taken into custody without incident. He is charged with Deadly Conduct, a misdemeanor.
In addition to Nacogdoches Police officers, members of several other law enforcement agencies, including constables, highway patrol and sheriff’s department responded. Off-duty officers who were in the area also responded to assist.
