TX - Dr. Mark Hausknecht, 65, Physician to GHW Bush killed in bicycle drive-by shooting, Houston

[msnikkii]

Actually there is some office space above the garage on the southgate* side but I’m not sure what’s up there.

I don’t know why I keep calling the street south hall. It’s southgate, my apologies for the confusion

 

[Gooddeeds]

Misc info:

“The 30-story Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza, 6400 Fannin St., completed in 2007, boasts on its website that it offers "superb views of Rice University, downtown Houston, Hermann Park, the Texas Medical Center, & Reliant Park."

The first link below is an interesting article on 62 buildings by number in the medical center. It features good maps on each one.

Texas Medical Center | Buildings | EMPORIS

Texas Medical Center - Wikipedia

List of tallest buildings in Houston - Wikipedia

 

[flute4peace]

No, but you would think if people saw him in the area on prior occasions it would have been reported. For instance, doctor was riding to work regularly and many people have seen him regularly and it was reported.

The Dr was well-known, though, and this guy is just a random dude on a bike. No reason for anyone to have noticed him.

 

[TGIRecovered]

Maybe he serveilled different segments of the the doc’s commute on different days to see where it would be best to attack.

He could have used different methods on different days.

He didn’t really look like he was wearing much of a disguise on the day of the shooting. He might have changed his hair, clothing, posture etc. when he was observing the doc’s route.

He could have been a streetperson, construction worker, landscaper, tourist, security guard, mom with a jogger stroller. Bald, belly pouched bike rider, rider with a man-bun in spandex biker shorts.

He could have been an Uber with a dash-cam. He could have used a drone.

He could have an accomplice who helped time things, maybe even on the day of the shooting.

That’s just what I can think of in addition to methods already discussed.

 

[snowleopard]

New video released....
NEW VIDEO: More video released surrounding doctor's murder

This guy looks cool as a cucumber, not pedaling fast at all.

Thanks for the link Coco! I find the bike interesting. I used to be a pretty avid cyclist when I was younger, and worked in a bike shop a few summers in college. This is an 'old school' 10-12 speed type bike circa the late 70's to maybe 1990 or so. It has a mid range gear range in the rear cassette, so likely decent quality, not a racing model, but not cheap. The top tube is parallel to the ground and has a tight space near the front where the bottom tube meets the top tube, indicating this is no more than a 21" frame size, probably 19-20", suitable for someone with a 29" inseam ideally, possibly a woman. The rider has the seat at least 1.5" below ideal, which tells me he is not a regular (serious) rider, or this is not his bike. Not sure what else I can draw from this, but hopefully HPD has a bike enthusiast officer or two who has noticed the same things.

 

[Jim G]

Man-bun and Gucci spandex biking shorts...only thing missing are cowboy boots

 

[jjenny]

Thanks for the link Coco! I find the bike interesting. I used to be a pretty avid cyclist when I was younger, and worked in a bike shop a few summers in college. This is an 'old school' 10-12 speed type bike circa the late 70's to maybe 1990 or so. It has a mid range gear range in the rear cassette, so likely decent quality, not a racing model, but not cheap. The top tube is parallel to the ground and has a tight space near the front where the bottom tube meets the top tube, indicating this is no more than a 21" frame size, probably 19-20", suitable for someone with a 29" inseam ideally, possibly a woman. The rider has the seat at least 1.5" below ideal, which tells me he is not a regular (serious) rider, or this is not his bike. Not sure what else I can draw from this, but hopefully HPD has a bike enthusiast officer or two who has noticed the same things.

If this biking was used for an assassination ploy, then likely he isn't a regular biker and this isn't his bike.

 

[Inthedetails]

But again, if shooter was practicing, wouldn't somebody have seen it? Would also be kind of useless to practice without the doctor present, because speed at which shooter would have to go would depend on how fast the doctor was going.

How do you think he prepared?

 

[jjenny]

How do you think he prepared?

I wish I knew. This is such a bizarre case. From what we know about the doctor, there seem to be no reason as to why someone would want him dead. Yet seems rather obvious doctor was targeted so somebody must have really wanted him dead. The suspect is on video yet apparently no one recognized him so far. Presumably that means that the suspect wasn't regularly biking in the area, maybe not even living in Houston normally?

 

[Inthedetails]

I wish I knew. This is such a bizarre case. From what we know about the doctor, there seem to be no reason as to why someone would want him dead. Yet seems rather obvious doctor was targeted so somebody must have really wanted him dead. The suspect is on video yet apparently no one recognized him so far. Presumably that means that the suspect wasn't regularly biking in the area, maybe not even living in Houston normally?

I got the impression you had some insight on how he prepared.

None of us know how the shooter was able to pull this off, but we are tossing out ideas that could be possible. For me, I think he practiced on bike in advance to get the timing down so well. Whether or not we have video of the practice runs doesn't mean it's not a possibility.

jmo

 

[dixiegirl1035]

If this biking was used for an assassination ploy, then likely he isn't a regular biker and this isn't his bike.

I'm wondering if authorities have recognized and determined the model of the bike. And if they have, would they release that information to the public so that the public could help them?

 

[CocoChanel]

I was thinking about the unsolved 1982 murdered doctor case in the Houston Medical Center. For those just joining, here is the only mainstream link I can find on this:
Doctor Is Fatally Shot At Hospital in Houston

Wouldn’t you think this case would be mentioned in at least one of the current news reports about MH? It’s very similar in that it also seemed targeted, but hardly anything mainstream has ever been written about it, and it remains a mystery some 36 years after it happened. If that case can still be cold, I think this case could go the same way unfortunately. And like I have said before, I believe there is something larger than us and darker than night at work in both cases. Not saying they are linked, just similar.
IMHO of course.

 

[Inthedetails]

I'm wondering if authorities have recognized and determined the model of the bike. And if they have, would they release that information to the public so that the public could help them?

Really good point. My husband commutes daily on bike, and details about other riders' bike is something he notices, as probably most regular riders do. Releasing bike info might trigger some memories of bike commuters who saw him on the route either that day or previously.

jmo

 

[kirkassoc]

Maybe he serveilled different segments of the the doc’s commute on different days to see where it would be best to attack.

He could have used different methods on different days.

He didn’t really look like he was wearing much of a disguise on the day of the shooting. He might have changed his hair, clothing, posture etc. when he was observing the doc’s route.

He could have been a streetperson, construction worker, landscaper, tourist, security guard, mom with a jogger stroller. Bald, belly pouched bike rider, rider with a man-bun in spandex biker shorts.

He could have been an Uber with a dash-cam. He could have used a drone.

He could have an accomplice who helped time things, maybe even on the day of the shooting.

That’s just what I can think of in addition to methods already discussed.

BBM
I do hope LE is reviewing the past week/month or so of videos to look for this suspect. You are probably right that this was not this culprit's first rodeo. I am sure he did his homework before handing it in.

It is probably a hit man, but someone knows him, even if he came in from out of state to accomplish this dastardly deed.

 

[tonygameboy]

Wow the newly released video from moments after the shooting shows a pretty chill killer. Just strolling along and the backpack is definitely loaded. One report says he is on a mountain bike but that’s wrong it’s a road bike with 700cc wheels.

 

[Jim G]

Wonder if there's any prior incidents of a hit-man on a bike? You gotta ask yourself, why didn't assassin use car and do drive by. Hit-man may have walked the route,I don't think he would necessarily have to do a dry run. Downtown and cameras everywhere - they must have a lot of footage on him. Any evidence of a disguise? Killed in his scrubs - the uniform of his profession - does that hint at motive?

 

[msnikkii]

So talking to people, the “hit man” has been seen in the area before. The doctor is known because he gives the homeless guys Starbucks in the mornings.

 

[snowleopard]

If this biking was used for an assassination ploy, then likely he isn't a regular biker and this isn't his bike.

I tend to agree. It may have been dumped in a creek or dumpster. But if not, hopefully the owner may see the video somehow, who knows.

 

[Deleted member 192280]

In the likelihood that the bike was not owned by the suspect himself, local bike shops should be contacted to find out any rentals of similar bikes in days before the murder, whether the bikes were returned, whether by the original renter or a different person, or maybe never returned. Also investigate among the general population whether there had been any loan/sale/trade of similar bikes not long before the murder.

 

[msnikkii]

I tend to agree. It may have been dumped in a creek or dumpster. But if not, hopefully the owner may see the video somehow, who knows.

There is a bayou in the area. The bike can end up there....