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LSU 'shocked' by death of doctor taken hostage in Texas

3 years 1 month 2 weeks ago Thursday, January 28 2021 Jan 28, 2021 January 28, 2021 3:22 AM January 28, 2021 in News
Source: KVUE

AUSTIN, TX — A woman from Baton Rouge who graduated from LSU's School of Medicine is dead after being held captive during an overnight standoff in Texas.

According to KVUE, the deadly hostage situation unfolded at a doctor's office near MoPac Expressway in Austin.

The Austin Police Department said officers sent a robot equipped with a camera unit into the building after about six hours and spotted the victim. At that point, the SWAT team entered the building and found two people dead.

Local news sources identified one of the people killed as Dr. Katherine Lindley Dodson of Baton Rouge. Officials said she was killed by the gunman, Dr. Bharat Narumanchi, who then killed himself. 

Reports said Narumanchi had a terminal cancer diagnosis at the time of the attack.

Narumanchi reportedly entered Children's Medical Group carrying what appeared to be a pistol, a shotgun, and two duffel bags before taking five people hostage. Several escaped and others were allowed to leave until it was only Narumanchi and Dodson left in the building.

Officials said Narumanchi did not work at the office but was there about a week prior to apply for a volunteer position. Police said he was denied that position, but they're still investigating whether that or his cancer diagnosis was a factor in the attack.

Dodson was a 2003 graduate at the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans and taught at Harvard Medical School. She was a doctor and partner at Children's Medical Group and had lived and worked in the Austin area since 2007.

Her parents are Katherine and Paul Spaht. Her mother, Katherine, is a retired LSU Law professor. Her father is Baton Rouge attorney Paul Spaht.

Interim LSU President Tom Galligan released the following statement in response to Dodson's death. 

"We are shocked at the tragic loss of Lindley, and our hearts go out to Katherine, Paul, Drew, and the entire family. Words fail us but we offer our good thoughts, sympathy, and prayers to our friends and colleague."

The incident remains under investigation. 

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