The man at the center of a hostage standoff at Tomball Regional Medical Center this past January faces a potential return to jail – in part because of a baptism.
For the first time since the incident, George Pickering asked for the chance to tell his side of the story Thursday night.
He admits that he did take a gun to the hospital that day, not to hurt anyone, but to take his own life if his son Georgie was indeed brain dead as he had been told.
But once he got to the hospital he became convinced his son was not and shouldn't be disconnected from life support.
Pickering eventually surrendered to authorities.
He spent more than 70 days in jail, and is charged with two counts of aggravated assault.
But here's the part you haven't heard.
His son wasn't brain dead. Georgie, who is 27 years old, survived. And Georgie, who has for several years suffered from repeated strokes, recovered.
This past Easter weekend, both George Pickering and his son were baptized at Silver Springs Church in Magnolia. Pickering was baptized first, then he helped baptize Georgie. The problem now is that George, because of the criminal charges still pending and so far unresolved in court, has a no contact order, and prosecutors say he isn't supposed to be near Georgie.
Friday morning, prosecutors might ask a judge to put Pickering back in jail as a violation of his bond.
Thursday night, Pickering said he's sorry for all the trouble he's caused, but that he needs to be here to take care of his son and his continuing medical needs.
"I'd do it again and again and again and it probably, you know, I just ask, I'm asking God, I'm asking everybody to understand, everybody to understand," Pickering said while seated in the sanctuary of the same church where both he and his son were baptized.
Prosecutors have also issued a subpoena to the church pastor, demanding he produce a copy of the baptism video.
Pickering is due in Harris County Criminal Court Friday morning.
We will continue to update this story with the results of that court hearing.
