Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis's office secured a 30-year sentence for the shotgun ambush of Sachse police officers. Josiah Perez, 27, of Sachse, Texas, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon against a Public Servant, following a guilty verdict by a jury.
The incident occurred on September 2, 2022, at 12:02 a.m., when two Sachse police officers were parked in their squad car completing a report. Perez approached the vehicle from behind and fired a short-barreled shotgun into the driver's side window, injuring Officer Cory Bable. Despite his injuries, Officer Bable managed to push the shotgun away and attempted to disarm Perez.
Sergeant Brent Merryman, the passenger officer, responded by firing back at Perez, who was shot twice but continued to point his weapon at the officers. Merryman then neutralized Perez, who was taken into custody. Two additional live shotgun shells were found on Perez during his arrest.
The trial revealed that the officers had no prior interactions with Perez before the attack. Further investigation by the Texas Rangers uncovered Perez's criminal history, including a prior conviction for assaulting a police officer in Dallas County.
During the punishment phase of the trial, the jury heard testimonies from Mesquite police officers who had previous encounters with Perez. After considering all evidence presented, the jury sentenced Perez to 30 years in prison.
In response to the sentencing, District Attorney Greg Willis emphasized the bravery of the officers involved, stating, "Perez ambushed officers from behind while they were pulled over completing their responsibilities on an unrelated call. We're so thankful for their brave and heroic actions, and this case is a reminder that there are no routine calls or routine days for a police officer."
The prosecution team, led by Assistant Criminal District Attorney Ashlyn Scott and Dewey Mitchell, was supported by District Attorney Investigator Laurie Gibbs throughout the case.
