The parents of an Austin doctor spoke out on Wednesday night after their son killed another physician and then turned the weapon on himself after a hostage situation at a Texas hospital on Tuesday night.
“We don’t understand our son’s motives or actions but feel this time is best spent remembering Dr. Dodson and her contributions to this world,” the family of Dr. Bharat Narumanchi wrote in a statement to CBS Austin.
The 43-year-old doctor had barged into Children’s Medical Group in downtown Austin armed with a gun. He took hostages and killed Dr. Katherine Lindley Dodson, 43, in a murder-suicide, police have said.
“We, the parents of Dr. Bharat Kumar Narumanchi, wish to extend our most sincere condolences and most fervent prayers to the family, friends and colleagues of Dr. Lindley Dodson,” Narumanchi’s family wrote in the statement.
The parents said they are cooperating with investigators.
“We share your grief for a life so senselessly cut short,” they said.
Narumanchi, who had terminal cancer, had a practice in California.
He applied for a volunteer position at Children’s Medical Group within the past two weeks, but was turned down, police said.
Dodson established a successful pediatric practice in the city, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
“The consequences of this action will live with us forever and we can only hope that faith, spiritual healing and God’s light will guide us through the darkness of this moment,” Narumanchi’s family said in the statement.
