State Trooper saved by a remarkable shot!

A traffic stop nearly turned deadly Monday evening November 6, 2017 for Texas DPS Trooper Eric Najera. The Texas DPS is not currently releasing the name of the driver due to further pending criminal investigation.. Approximately 5:30pm the trooper pulled over a vehicle just south of F.M. 1791, north of Huntsville. Trooper Najera discovered that the driver, of the vehicle had active warrants for his arrest. Upon having the driver exit the vehicle, a physical confrontation took place between the driver and the trooper. While both men were on the ground in what Najera describes as a life and death fight for his weapon, a single shot was fired striking the ground inches away from the driver. The driver gave up the fight fearing he would be fatally shot. The driver was quickly handcuffed, and taken into custody by Trooper Najera. This is where the heroic story takes a remarkable twist. In an interview late Monday evening, Najera told reporters “I thought additional troopers had received my call for help and had arrived”. I was too busy cuffing the driver to worry about who had stopped to help me. The trooper was shocked to see several officers from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice coming to his aid.
Trooper Najera was thankful that to the officers rushed to save him. He credited the officers for saving him from what could have been certain death, had the driver gained control of his weapon. The trooper said I was to personally thank the officer that fired the shot that ended the fight. The correctional officers that responded to the scene were all unarmed, as firearms are strictly prohibited in a prison facility.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice released the name of the Officer that saved the Trooper. Correction officer K.S. O’Neill who was on duty in a tower nearly 400 yards away observing the incident and made the call for help. O’Neill stated that he knew the trooper was in danger of losing his life and made the decision to take the shot.
Warden Richard Gunnles told reporters that it’s not often that we are forced to make a decision like this, but I’m glad I had an officer that was capable of doing it. Gunnles also made mention of the distance of the shot calling it, nothing short of amazing. We train our officers to be proficient with weapons up to 75 yards. We only hear of trained professional military Snipers making long distance shots like this.
Trooper Najera got the opportunity to meet with O’Neill Monday evening. Najera said I wanted to Thank the man that made it possible for me to go home to my little girl. All of the officers involved were able to meet before reporters were invited into the room. A Lieutenant from TDCJ stated that there was a moment of silence when Trooper Najera and Officer O’Neill first locked eyes. There were more than a few tears shed to say the least.
Officer O’Neill declined request for interviews however a witness at the meeting said that O’Neill simply said “I didn’t make the decision to take a life, I made the decision to save one”