SPRING, Texas – A Harris County Sheriff’s deputy who was shot with his own gun by a 3-year-old family member will not face charges, according to court documents obtained by KPRC 2.
Coria Valle, 31, was shot in the right hand by his nephew inside the deputy’s Spring home.
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What happened
Newly released court records show that Deputy Valle called 911 shortly after 11:30 a.m. on January 27.
He wouldn’t tell dispatchers specific details, other than he was shot. When deputies arrived, Valle already had a tourniquet on his arm.
Valle told investigators that he was sleeping on the couch when he woke up to a loud bang and found himself bleeding. He then saw that his 3-year-old nephew grabbed his Sig Sauer P365 9mm pistol. This gun is not his duty weapon Valle uses while serving as a sheriff’s deputy.
First responders rushed Valle to Houston Northwest Hospital where he underwent surgery for non-life threatening injuries. Doctors also found injuries to his left thumb and left shoulder, possibly from bullet fragments.
Investigation and conflicting reports
The gun was left in its holster on living room table, according to Valle. He placed it there before going to sleep on the couch in the living room.
An incident report from the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office says that Deputy Valle changed his story.
Originally, deputies say Valle told them he shot himself, but then later changed the story to the young child shot him.
Valle’s mother was the only other person home at the time of the shooting. She was in the kitchen making coffee when the toddler pulled the trigger. The mother told deputies that she heard a loud noise and ran into the living room to find her son had been shot.
The child was not injured and found in another room. According to deputies, the child’s mother was not home at the time of the shooting.
Texas Child Protective Services was contacted, but the child was not removed from the family.
DA declines charges
Harris County Precinct 4 Constable deputies presented the case to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, who declined to pursue charges.
“After review of the case, charges were declined due to no SBI [serious bodily injury] to the suspect and the element of intentional negligence due to [the] firearm being within inches of the suspect when the child was able to access the firearm.”
According to a Harris County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson, the case did not meet the qualifications of the law for making a firearm accessible to a minor.
KPRC 2 has requested Deputy Valle’s employment record and if any disciplinary action is being taken. As of this publication, we haven’t received a response to our request.