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A 34-year-old McAllen man who shot a police officer while fending off a burglar in 2018 has received probation.
Michael Garza, who had initially been charged with aggravated assault against a public servant following his Dec. 24, 2018 arrest, pleaded guilty Thursday to a lesser charge of deadly conduct.
Garza, who reached a plea deal with prosecutors, was sentenced to 18 months probation, court records show.
Garza shot former McAllen police officer Edgar Devora after reporting a break-in at his residence in the 3200 block of Guadalupe Street.
The burglary suspect, 44-year-old Sullivan City resident Ricardo Villalon, struggled with Garza after trying to take items from his residence.
Garza chased Villalon for several blocks into an open field where Devora joined the pursuit.
As Devora struggled with Villalon, Garza drew a handgun and fired in their direction, striking the officer in his right arm, according to a news release.
Both Garza and Villalon were detained and the stolen property was recovered.
Villalon was indicted on a charge of burglary of a habitation and on Nov. 26, 2019, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
As for Devora, the city of McAllen eventually fired him and he filed a lawsuit against the municipality alleging the city discriminated and retaliated against him for filing and seeking benefits under the municipality’s worker’s compensation plan.
Devora also sued Garza over the shooting.
Both of those lawsuits are ongoing.
