Armed Woman Causes Standoff, Shuts Down I-45 in Harris County

HARRIS COUNTY, TX — A woman armed with a gun caused a major shutdown on I-45 Thursday afternoon after a crash with an 18-wheeler outside Houston led to a standoff with law enforcement in the middle of the freeway.

According to the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office, the incident began when a crash was reported on the southbound lanes of the North Freeway in the Spring area. Responding deputies were told by a 911 caller that one of the individuals involved was armed. Authorities said the woman had struck another vehicle before pulling over and refusing to comply with deputy commands.

Pct. 4 officials said the woman exited her vehicle, sat in a lawn chair on the freeway, and held a gun to her head while ignoring law enforcement commands. A trained negotiator was brought in to speak with the woman, and authorities also contacted a family member to assist.

The incident led to the shutdown of both northbound and southbound lanes of I-45 by emergency crews. As of 3 p.m., the standoff was still ongoing, and drivers were warned to expect major delays in the area.