HOUSTON (AP) — A combative patient at St. Joseph Medical Center was shot and critically wounded Thursday during a fight with two off-duty police officers who were hurt while struggling to subdue him, a hospital official said.

Annette Garber, a spokeswoman at the downtown Houston hospital, said the male patient, 26, was in critical condition. She declined to release further details of why he was originally hospitalized, how long he was at St. Joseph Medical Center or his treatment after being shot by an officer.

The patient was being combative with hospital staff before officers were summoned, she said.

Both male Houston police officers, working security at the hospital, tried to subdue the patient before one ended up opening fire during the "serious situation," Garber said.

"They were dealing with a very combative patient, with the incident the patient was very aggressive with the officers," Garber said. "The officers of course attempted multiple ways to subdue the patient, and weren't able to subdue him, so one officer did fire and shoot the patient."

The shooting took place on one of the medical floors, Garber said.

The officers were being treated for injuries that do not appear life-threatening. She did not elaborate.

Names of the patient and the officers were not immediately released. Houston police were not immediately available to comment on the shooting.