Former Cardiologist Of George H.W. Bush Fatally Shot While Riding Bike

Houston Police have released a sketch of the man they say shot and killed prominent cardiologist Mark Hausknecht while he was riding his bike to work.

Hausknecht, 65, was gunned down while riding his bike Friday morning to the Texas Medical Center, according to the Houston Chronicle. Surveillance images released by the Houston Police Department shows a second biker on a light-colored mountain bike following close behind Hausknecht just moments before he was killed.

Authorities are offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest, the Chronicle reported.

The well-known doctor once treated President George H.W. Bush for an irregular heartbeat and had been in practice for nearly four decades when the shooting occurred.

There is no known motive in the case.

According to information released by the Houston Police Department, Hausknecht was riding through a Houston intersection when he was passed from behind by the suspect. The doctor was shot a few blocks further in front of a hotel, and the suspect was last seen riding his bike away from the scene.

Police released a series of still images that show the suspect moving behind Hausknecht just one block before the shooting occurred. 

Witnesses described the suspect as a white or Hispanic male of about 30 years old with a slender build. He was wearing a tan baseball cap, sunglasses, khaki shorts, and a grey warm-up jacket, according to a statement released by police.

Authorities are hopeful that other surveillance footage from businesses in the area could help in the case.

Police Chief Art Acevedo told The Chronicle that the more video footage they have, "the greater the chances are that we will capture additional evidence."

Hausknecht's wife, Georgia R. Hsieh, MD, called the killing "senseless" in a statement posted by KTRK, a Houston news station.

"As a trained emergency medicine physician, I am no stranger to the devastating consequences of both intentional and accidental firearm use," she said. "Now my family and I have joined the ranks of tens of thousands of other grieving Americans who lose innocent loved ones each year."

She urged others to help by using their vote to improve gun safety.

"We owe it to future generations to leave a safer environment," she said.

Houston Methodist President Marc Bloom, MD, described Hausknecht as a compassionate physician with a phenomenal bedside manner in a statement to The Chronicle.

"Our employees who worked with him said patients were so proud to call him their doctor," he said.

[Photo: Houston Police]