HOUSTON — The City of Houston on Wednesday took the time during a council meeting to honor the officer and civilian who helped pull a wounded officer to safety during a shootout on the Southwest Freeway in November.
The civilian, John Lally, recorded the incident on his phone the day it happened.
"You're OK. You're OK bro. Breathe," Lally could be heard saying on the video.
Houston police officer J. Gibson had just been shot in the leg after a chase ended in a shootout on the Southwest Freeway. Thanks in part to Lally and Officer S. Trujillo dragging him to safety, Gibson is recovering at home.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Police Chief Troy Finner highlighted Lally's heroic actions at the council meeting Wednesday morning.
"Your heart and what you did that day is very important, along with our fine officers," Finner told Lally. "I just wanted to say a big thank you."
The mayor issued a proclamation naming December 20, 2023 as John Lally's Day in the City of Houston.
"God has great things to do with you're life," Finner said. "Thanks for stepping up."
Trujillo was similarly honored.
"They pulled the officer back together, so I think it's fitting that we recognize y'all at the same time," Finner said.
What happened
The incident started around 10 a.m. on November 11 when an officer spotted a vehicle that was taken in a carjacking the previous day.
Finner said the officer followed the stolen vehicle without using sirens or emergency equipment, but when the suspect noticed the officer, he sped off and a chase began.
Finner said the drive went northbound on the Southwest Freeway, and as he approached the 610 Loop, he crashed into multiple vehicles. The man tried to carjack two people after he crashed, and as he shot at officers, at least three returned fire, hitting the suspect multiple times, Finner said.
The driver was pronounced dead at a hospital.