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RICHMOND, Texas -- A man accused of shooting a Meadows Place police officer during a chase two years ago was found guilty of attempted capital murder and sentenced to life in prison Tuesday.
A jury deliberated for about an hour before convicting Joseph Lee Flores, 36, said Fort Bend County assistant district attorney John Hawkins. The jury took about the same amount of time to determine punishment in the shooting of Sgt. Larry Eissler.
Flores also received a 60-year sentence for aggravated robbery in connection with the June 2, 2006, episode that led to the wounding of the officer.
The jury also fined Flores $10,000 for each charge.
A co-defendant, Tamina Hamid, 27, is awaiting trial.
Eissler was wounded in the arm and shoulder after he pulled his patrol car next to a stolen vehicle occupied by Flores and Hamid at South Dairy Ashford and West Airport.
The pair were wanted for carjacking and opened fire on the sergeant, who fired back, authorities said.
The incident began when Hamid, of Katy, posed as a hitchhiker looking for a ride to a church in southwest Houston, police said. A motorist gave her a ride to a church near Brighton and Murphy in Fort Bend County. Flores pulled behind the car and shot at the motorist, grazing his head, police said.
Police said the pair robbed the driver, took his Toyota 4Runner, then struck a vehicle near Murphy and U.S. 59 near Meadows Place, between Houston and Sugar Land.
Eissler tried to stop them at West Airport and Kirkwood. The driver pointed a gun, and a chase ensued.
As the vehicle approached a service station at Dairy Ashford and West Airport, Eissler pulled alongside the vehicle. Police said Flores fired, striking the officer in the shoulder. Eissler shot back.
The pair then pulled into the gas station and carjacked a man as he pumped gas, police said.
Fort Bend County sheriff's deputies joined the pursuit through several Sugar Land neighborhoods, exchanging gunfire with the pair before the chase moved onto U.S. 59.
The pursuit ended when Flores crashed into another truck near Texas 6, police said.
