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Man arrested after holding baby hostage in hospital, threatening child with a gun

Posted at 3:32 PM, Sep 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-04 15:32:59-04

Police say they arrested a man who held a gun to the torso of an infant girl inside a Texas hospital Saturday evening.

Police say 33-year-old Lorenzo Zarate walked into the emergency room of Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Waxahachie and was holding a gun to the child's body.

A witness says Zarate told the 20 to 25 people inside to leave immediately.

Police say Zarate handed the baby to hospital personnel and officials also took custody of a second child in his vehicle in the parking lot.

The emergency room was evacuated and the hospital was placed into lockdown.

Officials took Zarate into custody following a standoff with police.

Zarate is charged with one count of making a terroristic threat, one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of trying to take a gun from an officer.

Officials say they are not sure why Zarate, who is from Austin, stopped at the hospital.

Baylor Scott and White Medical Center issued the following statement:

"The safety of our patients, visitors and care team members is a top priority. We are grateful for the leadership displayed by our care team and the Waxahachie Police Department as they helped to bring about a peaceful end to a situation in our emergency department this evening. Our hospital is open and operating normally."