Man Held 11 National Guard Troops Transporting COVID-19 Vaccines at Gunpoint in Lubbock

Some stories are just so unbelievably crazy that you're not sure where to start.

An Arizona man was jailed in Texas this week after police say he forced three National Guard Vans off the road in Lubbock and held soldiers at gunpoint.

When I first came across this story, the headline mentioned that the troops had been transporting COVID-19 vaccines. My initial thought was that perhaps the man was an extreme anti-vaxxer, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

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KLBK-TV reports that 66-year-old Larry Lee Harris followed three National Guard vans as they left a Love's Travel Station Monday morning. He reportedly tried several times to run the vans off the road before turning his vehicle into oncoming traffic and forcing the vehicles to stop. He then claimed to be a detective and held the troops at gunpoint.

According to a report shared by WITI-TV, Harris put the gun away when police arrived at the scene.

So, why did he do it? Police say Harris is "mentally disturbed" (no arguments here) and believed that a woman and child had been kidnapped. He was reportedly searching the vans when police arrived. He didn't appear to be at all interested in the vaccines.

I looked up Harris up in the Lubbock County Jail roster. He remained in the jail Tuesday afternoon on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, interfering with Texas military forces, unlawful carry of a weapon, unlawful restraint, and impersonating a public servant. The roster listed Wilcox, Arizona as his hometown. His bonds totaled $40,500.

This situation could have turned deadly very quickly. Thankfully no injuries were reported, and I hope that Harris can get treatment.

If you're struggling with mental health issues or are wondering how you can help someone who is, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services website has information on available resources.