HOUSTON – Just one day after the City of Houston honored the man who helped pull a Houston police officer to safety during a shootout on the Southwest Freeway, he joined KPRC 2 News Today at 10.
John Lally, the hailed hero, was recording the incident when he saw 29-year-old Officer John Gibson get shot.
On KPRC 2 News Today at 10, Lally reflected on both the harrowing moments in the shootout and the proclamation from the city in his honor. You can watch the entire interview above.
Lally said he was on his way to work when he thought he was getting pulled over.
“I slowed down a little bit, then the cop goes around me, cuts me off,” said Lally. “Then it sounded like a big explosion...I saw a car flip over, a tire fly in the air, and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, let me start recording!’”
Lally got out of his car, thinking he was going to pull someone out who was involved in a car crash when the shootout began.
“I saw somebody get shot in the leg and fall down to the ground, then stand up, then fall again,” said Lally. “I immediately felt his pain because I’ve been shot in the same leg before.”
Lally found Officer Gibson with a gunshot wound to his leg and then immediately pulled him to safety.
“And then I just told him to hold my hand and I wanted to talk to him,” said Lally. “I know if you talk to somebody while they’re going through something, it’s going to help take their mind off the situation and what’s really going on.”
“And then I found out he has a 20-month-old son. He needs to go home and be a father,” added Lally. “That’s why I told him, ‘Raise that kid right. I grew up without a dad, so I know what it’s like. I know what his future can be, he has a lot of good things coming his way.’”
Lally went on to add that anyone with a true heart would’ve stepped into the situation had they been in his position.
So what’s John’s message of hope?
“Never count the days, make the days count and you can’t change the past, but you can always work on the future.”
“I love Houston, man,” said Lally. “I want to show my city that somebody with a troubled past can make a change. You can keep working to make yourself better and you can keep doing better things. If you want to be successful, surround yourself around successful people and that’s where you’ll go.”
Owen and Sofia added that the City of Houston loves John. And we’d love to see John throw out the first pitch.
“Man I’d love all of that,” said Lally. “Man, I love the Rockets, the Texans, the Astros. And shoutout Johnny Dang, if you wanna give me a grill, I’ll take one man.”