A Good Samaritan who has had “trouble with law enforcement in his life” dragged an injured Texas police officer to safety Saturday morning after he was shot in the leg during a standoff with a carjacker.
John Lally was acting when a shootout erupted after an unidentified 19-year-old suspect fled a traffic stop and crashed his stolen car on Southwest Freeway in Houston at about 10 a.m., according to the Houston Police Department.
The suspect got out of the car and tried to carjack the other driver, police said. When that failed, the battle began in earnest when a series of shots cut off a traffic drone, according to video of the chaotic scene obtained by ABC 13 in Houston.
One round found its mark, hitting Officer J. Gibson, 29, and leaving him bleeding and crawling on the pavement.
That’s when Lally jumped into the fray, running toward the wounded officer.
“I just ran over there, and I caught the guy with another police officer,” Lally told ABC. “He and I, together, we held him by his jacket, so that he would not be shot again.”
John Lally saves a wounded police officer who was shot during a confrontation with a carjacker. KHOU11 Lally and another policeman dragged the injured officer across the highway and behind a vehicle. KHOU11
They dragged Gibson across the freeway and into the back of a truck as a hail of bullets flew overhead, according to the terrifying video taken by brave Lally because he was on his way to work and wasn’t sure his employer would believe him.
“I saw a cop get shot, and I’ve been shot in the same leg, and it made me know what he went through,” Lally told KHOU 11 in Houston.
“I just saw someone [who needed] please, so I ran there,” continued Lally. “I kind of didn’t know there was still a shoot — in my head, I was just like, ‘Man, I’ve got to’ get this guy real quick.'”
The officer, 29-year-old J. Gibson, was shot in the leg. KHOU11 Gibson – who has a 20-month-old son – is listed in stable condition. KHOU11’s Lally told the news outlet that he had been shot in the same leg before, so he knew what the officer was going through. KHOU11
Then Lally stayed with the man, comforting him while they waited for the paramedics.
“’It’s just your leg. It’s just your leg, you hear me? Just squeeze my hand as hard as you can,’” said Lally. “’You know what I’m saying? Don’t worry, I’m with you.’”
“It was my call to be here with you today, you hear me?” Lally said on the recording.
Police eventually killed the car thief after he tried to steal at least two other cars. KHOU11 Gibson is recovering at a local hospital after the incident.KHOU11
His act of heroism is a prime example of citizens coming together for the greater good, according to Chief Troy Finner of the Houston Police Department.
“[Lally] had trouble with law enforcement in his life, but [Saturday], he and several other citizens, along with our officers, when the officer came down, they pulled him to safety,” Finner said. “I want to celebrate.”
“Individuals who really change are people we can use [as an example],” he continued. “He stepped up.”
Finner said the department will formally recognize Lally in the future.
Lally told the ABC that one of Gibson’s family members had already contacted him to say thank you.
Meanwhile, Gibson is recovering at a local hospital, police said.
The father-of-one underwent surgery on his leg, and is listed in a stable condition.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
