Joseph James Pappas, suspect in the killing of George W Bush's cardiologist, commits suicide as police closed in
Sixty-two-year-old Joseph James Pappas, suspected of killing former president George W Bush's cardiologist, committed suicide on Friday morning as police officials were closing in on him. Reports state that as he saw the detectives approach, he pulled out his own firearm and shot himself in the head. Police Chief, Art Acevedo, on Friday said that Pappas was pronounced dead on the scene in the southwest Houston.
Dr Mark Hausknecht was brutally gunned down on July 20 this year, while he was riding his bike to work at the Houston Methodist Hospital, which is part of the busy Texas Medical Centre. The gunman reportedly rode past Hausknecht before turning around and firing shots at him.
Officials, on Wednesday, said that the accused was possibly seeking revenge for his mother as she had died on the doctor's operating table over 20 years ago. "There was a lot of planning that went into this. There was a lot of planning and, sadly, some skill," the police chief said of the assault on the doctor.
Acevedo, while addressing reporters on Friday, said, "This is our suspect. The suspect’s deceased, he committed suicide when he was confronted by two members of the Houston Police Department Patrol assets here in the South West Division."
The suspect's death concludes after a week-long manhunt for Hausknecht’s killer. The chief had said that a tip on Tuesday led the authorities to suspect Pappas. Acevedo did not elaborate on the nature of the tip, reports state.
Acevedo, during the conference, said that Pappas had not be seen in 36 to 48 hours ever since the incident and the last anyone heard from Pappas was on Tuesday morning when he sent a text message stating that he was going to commit suicide.
The police chief added that the suspect's home was searched by officials on Wednesday at around 4 am and that the detectives found substantial evidence that Pappas was associated with the murder. Acevedo added that Pappas was very fit and possibly traveled around on his 10-speed bicycle, which he rides “extensively and almost exclusively”.
Hausknecht was also an avid cyclist and he reportedly used ride his bike to work every morning as he lived less than 2 miles from his workplace. Friends and family described the cardiologist as a humble and generous man. He also cared about the environment and used to frequently volunteer in his community.