The punishment phase for Officer Brian’s gunshot wound in 2022 has begun, the focus shifts to Brazos Co. Deputy.

BRAZOS COUNTY, Texas (KBTX) – The man accused of shooting two Brazos Valley officers and leading authorities on a 12-hour manhunt in 2022 pleaded guilty Thursday morning to aggravated assault of a public servant in a shooting

In this part of the trial, Joshua Herrin was found guilty of shooting and wounding police officer Brian Nagy Watson. Jurors deliberated for seven minutes on Herrin’s guilty verdict.

According to witness testimony heard in 361st District Court, Officer Watson tried to pull over Herrin in December 2022 because his car had a broken taillight. Herrin told jurors he refused to stop because his license was suspended. Herrin eventually shot Watson in the arm and leg and then stole his car on the eve of the hunt.

KBTX spoke with Watson on Thursday after the sentencing. He said he expected a guilty verdict, but was grateful the jury was given all the evidence to reach that conclusion. He added that, unfortunately, a simple traffic stop got out of hand.

Herrin’s trial officially began Tuesday and ended Thursday morning. The punishment phase began on Thursday afternoon.

At that point, the focus shifted from Watson’s injuries to a Brazos County sheriff’s deputy who was also wounded by Herrin during the hunt.

Sergeant Brittany Re was shot and killed by Herrin hours after an altercation with Watson. sergeant found one of the cars driven by Herrin and began to chase it. After Herrin followed for several minutes, shots from an AR-15 rang out from Herrin’s vehicle, striking Re’s patrol car. As she worked to alert other responding officers, Herrin rear-ended his vehicle in what Rae, other deputies and attorneys called an “ambush,” striking Rae in the shoulder, blinding her with shrapnel. Re testified that her vision was never the same.

That day, the jury was shown video from a body-worn camera and video recorder from Re’s response. This caused an emotional reaction from Watson, who had to leave the room during the video.

It was an emotional ordeal as law enforcement officers from across the county joined the audience, not only supporting their fellow law enforcement officers, but also reliving the reactions they all made to ultimately catch Herrin.

The penalty phase of that trial is expected to begin next week.