Texas family of kidnapping victim shot and killed during botched FBI rescue awarded nearly $2M

HOUSTON — The family of a kidnapping victim gunned down by an FBI agent during a failed rescue attempt has won a nearly $2 million lawsuit. 

A Houston judge ruled in favor of the family of Ulises Valladares in a federal civil rights lawsuit.  

Valladares was shot and killed by agent Gavin Lappe on Jan. 24, 2018. 

It happened after armed intruders broke into Valladares’ Conroe home, where they tied up him and his 12-year-old son. The gunmen then took Valladares hostage and drove to Houston. They claimed the victim’s brother owed them money and demanded ransom. 

During a rescue attempt, the agent shot Valladares through a window, claiming the victim tried to grab his rifle. An investigation by HPD said the agent’s story didn’t match the evidence. Valladares was tied up and blindfolded when he was shot. 

The judge determined Valladares “never was in contact with the agent’s weapon.”

His family said it’s been a long and painful journey.

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“But I thank God because everything is coming to an end,” Zulema Valladares, the victim’s sister, said in Spanish during a news conference on Monday.

The agent’s name had been kept secret until the judge in the lawsuit ordered the records unsealed. They also wanted criminal charges in the case.

“This is a long, arduous journey and the family has suffered immensely,” attorney Randall Kallinen said at the news conference.

It’s not clear if Lavin is still with the FBI. We reached out to the agency on Monday, but they said they don’t comment on personnel matters or litigation.