Austin man behind bars after holding his children hostage inside North TX hospital

An Austin man is behind bars after holding his children hostage inside of a North Texas hospital. It happened on September 3 at the Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Waxahachie.

33-year-old Lorenzo Zarate is charged with making a threat, aggravated assault and trying to take a gun from an officer.

Police say Zarate drove from Austin, with his two children, and stopped at the medical center. They say Zarate went into the ER with a handgun pointed at his infant daughter's head and told the ER waiting room to clear out.

Zarate gave the child to a hospital worker but the standoff began as officers arrived.

A police negotiator was eventually able to talk him into surrendering. 

Both children were safetly removed and no one was hurt.

Zarate is being held in the Ellis County Jail.