A man from Houston, who claims to have been to jail numerous times, became a hero when he rescued a wounded police officer during a shootout with a carjacking suspect on a highway. John Lally found himself caught in the midst of the crossfire after a car chase with the suspect on U.S. 59 in Houston’s West Loop. Lally, who was shooting a video on his phone, sprang into action when Officer John Gibson was injured.
Lally shared the video with USA TODAY, which captured the moment he pulled Gibson to safety while bullets flew around them. In the video, Lally can be heard yelling, “I got you! Come on! You’re OK, bro!”
In an interview with USA TODAY, Lally revealed that he had no idea there was a chase happening and thought he was being pulled over when he saw the sirens. He witnessed a car crash, which later turned out to be the carjacking suspect colliding with other vehicles.
Lally stated that he started recording the incident to show his boss why he was running late. The video shows Lally rescuing Gibson after he was shot, assuring him that he will be okay. Lally, who has had multiple encounters with the law in the past, expressed his love and respect for law enforcement.
During a press conference, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner commended Lally’s bravery and the assistance provided by other citizens. Finner emphasized the importance of recognizing reformed individuals like Lally, stating, “People make mistakes, but a truly reformed individual is a person that we can use.”
Lally explained that he immediately felt Gibson’s pain when he saw him get shot and knew he had to keep the wounded officer alert, as he had also been shot in the leg in the past. He attributed his ability to remain calm in the situation to his experiences behind bars and working in the service industry.
Lally has since spoken with Gibson’s family but has not yet interacted with the officer himself. He understands that Gibson needs time to heal and is open to connecting with him in the future. The Houston Police Department plans to formally recognize Lally’s heroism.
The carjacking suspect was shot multiple times and died, while Gibson is expected to make a full recovery.
