Oklahoma City man found guilty of role in police officer shooting; mother acquitted

Alex Mercado, 18, was found guilty of shooting with intent to kill. Jurors chose a punishment of three years in prison.

Jurors acquitted his mother, Vilma Escalante, 53, of the same offense.

“I'm glad the system works,” said her attorney, Cesar Armenta.

The admitted gunman, Hector Escalante, 19, pleaded guilty before trial to shooting with intent to kill and to a weapons offense.

“I shot a cop,” he said then.

Oklahoma County District Judge Don Deason will decide Hector Escalante's punishment at a sentencing in November. The judge could impose up to life in prison for the shooting.

The police officer, Katie Lawson, was shot six times on Aug. 29, 2010, after helping an Oklahoma County sheriff's deputy with a traffic stop. Her assailant used an assault rifle. She returned fire and survived.

“I thought I might pass out and fall to the ground and never wake up,” she testified last week during the trial.

Lawson described for the jury injuries to her arm, legs, stomach, back and head. She was wearing a bullet-resistant vest.