The family of an innocent man shot by the FBI during a botched rescue operation will receive a hefty payout from the federal government. A federal judge handed down a stunning $2 million judgment after determining an agent acted with “gross negligence” in the fatal shooting of a blindfolded kidnapping victim.
At a glance:
• U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt awarded nearly $2 million to the family of Ulises Valladares
• Valladares was shot by FBI agent Gavin Lappe during a rescue attempt in January 2018
• The victim was bound and blindfolded when he was fatally shot
• Agent Lappe claimed he fired his gun believing a kidnapper had grabbed his rifle
• The judge found Lappe “negligent, even grossly negligent” and the sole cause of Valladares’ death
FBI Agent’s Fatal Mistake
The federal government has been ordered to pay nearly $2 million to the family of Ulises Valladares, who was tragically killed by an FBI agent during what should have been a rescue operation. Agent Gavin Lappe shot Valladares while the victim was bound and blindfolded, mistaking him for one of the kidnappers during the January 2018 raid in Houston.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt delivered a scathing assessment of the agent’s actions in his ruling, finding Lappe was “negligent, even grossly negligent, in his response” when he fatally shot the kidnapped man. The judgment comes as the latest example of federal law enforcement facing serious consequences for deadly mistakes during high-pressure operations.
Deadly Rescue Attempt Gone Wrong
According to court documents, Lappe claimed he fired his gun because he believed a kidnapper had grabbed his rifle, not realizing he was actually shooting the very person the FBI was trying to save. The agent’s explanation, however, did not hold up under scrutiny, with former Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo stating that Lappe’s version of events wasn’t supported by evidence gathered by investigators.
Judge Hoyt noted in his ruling that Lappe shot at a silhouette without confirming his target and without any direct threat present. The judge’s decision highlighted the reckless nature of the agent’s actions, pointing out that there was no justification for using deadly force against a man who was both blindfolded and physically restrained.
While Lappe himself was protected from personal liability by qualified immunity, the federal government was found responsible for the agent’s actions. The nearly $2 million award will go to Valladares’ mother and young son, who filed the civil lawsuit in Houston federal court seeking justice for their loved one’s unnecessary death.
The case represents a rare instance where the federal government has been held financially accountable for the actions of its agents. Legal experts note that such judgments are uncommon given the broad protections typically afforded to federal law enforcement, making this ruling particularly significant for families of victims seeking redress through the court system.
We’re on the side of law enforcement – but when they get something so wrong, they need to be held accountable.
