A Texas teenager has been arrested after displaying deranged and dangerous behavior in a local hospital.
Odessa, TX, Police responded to a call to the Odessa Regional Medical Center on the report of a man attempting to strangle a child.
Marcus McCowan Jr., 18 years old, was visiting his pregnant girlfriend in the labor and delivery unit of the Odessa Hospital. A nurse told police that McCowan had advanced toward her at the nurse’s station. He grabbed the nurse’s arm and made an incomprehensible statement. The nurse asked McCowan to leave the floor, but instead, he displayed bizarre behavior, running back and forth erratically in the hallway. One nurse described his behavior as “odd and unreasonable.”
Instead of leaving the hospital, McCowan approached a new mom holding her baby in a carrier waiting to be discharged. A police affidavit reports that he had his sights set on the newborn child but moved away after the mother shielded the child from McCowan. Moments later, he charged, yelling and screaming as he advanced toward them. He pushed one nurse to the ground as he attempted unsuccessfully to enter the nursery. He then grabbed the newborn baby from the mom waiting to be discharged and took the baby into a lactation room. A nurse followed McCowan into the room and reported to police that he began to strangle the baby, causing the baby’s face to change color because its oxygen supply had been cut off. Several nurses were able to retrieve the baby from McCowan, and he was removed from the lactation room.
Moments later, another nurse heard yelling and witnessed McCowan breaking into the nursery. Once inside she reported that he grabbed another newborn and began to strangle her. He then picked up the baby by the neck and shook her, saying “die” to the baby. The nurse tried to get the baby away from McCowan and, at the same time, provided support so that the baby could not be thrown to the ground.
Officers arrived on the scene, and after a physical struggle in which McCowan attempted to grab one of the responding officer’s revolvers, he was subdued. Officers ushered him onto the elevator, where he made a second attempt to gain access to an officer’s revolver.
McCowan was eventually taken to Ector County Jail and is being charged with two counts of attempted capital murder, assault, assault of a public servant, resisting arrest, attempting to take a weapon from an officer, criminal trespassing, and possession of a controlled substance (vape pen containing THC was found on his possession). He’s currently being held on a $228,000 bond.
