“Ambush-style attack” left “stud” veteran Texas officer hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds after neutralizing suspect.
(Video: KHOU 11)
An early morning search for a burglary suspect casing businesses in Houston, Texas became a trap for 17-year veteran Houston Police Department Sgt. Mauricio Valle, 38. During a press conference hours after the incident, HPD Chief Troy Finner described what he called an “ambush-style attack” that proved fatal for the suspect.
Surveillance footage shared by KHOU 11 showed as a car entered an alley before the 23-year-old suspect would go on to approach Valle’s vehicle from the passenger side and open fire. Within seconds, another car arrived to provide backup after the sergeant had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his legs, arms and ballistic vest.
Valle had returned fire, fatally striking the suspect before fellow officers began to render him aid.
“Thank God he’s gonna be okay. But he’s in with the best doctors in the world, and they’re taking care of him,” Finner said during the press conference. He noted, “Officers who responded and rendered aid put tourniquets on our sergeant, and each and every one of them was talking about how calm and professional and what a stud our sergeant is.”
“I am very proud — not proud that people died — but I’m proud of the work our officers do,” the chief remarked.
By Saturday afternoon, Finner offered a statement with an update on the condition of the hospitalized sergeant whom he had visited with earlier.
“I want to thank the city and our great community for the prayers extended to our Sergeant who was shot multiple times in this overnight incident,” he expressed. “Today, I visited with Sergeant Mauricio Valle, his wife, his children and family members at the hospital. Everyone is doing well and in good spirits, considering the circumstances.”
UPDATE: Statement from Police Chief @TroyFinner: https://t.co/e8LqyC3HjF pic.twitter.com/r8mxBF0Sdw
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) December 2, 2023
“Sgt. Valle is alert and talking. He was scheduled to have surgery today and doctors tell us he is expected to make a full recovery, despite suffering multiple wounds,” the chief went on. “We are very grateful for this positive news and ask everyone to continue to pray for his recovery. Sgt. Valle said he can’t wait to get back with his fellow officers to serve and protect our city.”
As a testament to the sergeant’s fortitude, Finner had commented during the press conference on how Valle had been asking about a personal item that he always wore.
“When he was in the ambulance — our sergeant has this necklace, this gold necklace he wears all the time — he was concerned about the necklace,” the chief described.
Finner also detailed that the suspect had been involved in multiple burglaries and was a potential suspect in an aggravated assault that had led to a victim being shot. A woman alleged to have been casing businesses with the decedent was reportedly held for questioning.
The incident came within weeks of an HPD officer being pulled to safety by a former criminal hailed as a hero for stepping in during a shootout on Houston’s Southwest Freeway, all while recording the scene on his phone.
“People make mistakes, but a truly reformed individual is a person that we can use,” Finner said after John Phillip Lally had stepped in to help 29-year-old Officer J. Gibson. “He stepped up and other citizens stepped up, and I don’t want that to get lost.”
“If y’all see somebody that you can help, help them,” said Lally. “That’s the main moral of the story.”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
- Luxury brand facing scrutiny over failed Erika Kirk smear job by staffer who leaked purchase history - March 21, 2026
- James O’Keefe violently attacked on Skid Row while exposing ballot fraud in LA - March 21, 2026
- Trump says ‘winding down’ of Iran war near, but US not on the hook to secure Strait of Hormuz - March 21, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.