Texas gunman Joseph Sifuentes, who shot an off-duty Kyle officer over an apartment noise warning, has been sentenced to 50 years

A Texas man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after shooting an off-duty police officer during a noise confrontation, authorities said.

Joseph Sifuentes was 22 years old at the time of the shooting and is now 25, according to court records.

On August 26, 2023, at around 12:12 a.m., officers responded to reports of gunfire at the Encino Pointe Apartments on Post Road in San Marcos, Texas, police said.

Upon arrival, responding officers learned that an off-duty Kyle police officer had been shot in the arm, according to authorities.

The wounded officer had been working as a courtesy officer at the apartment complex, police said.

He was transported to a local hospital and survived his injuries, authorities said. The officer’s name has not been publicly released.

The off-duty officer heard what sounded like gunshots or fireworks and went to investigate while wearing his police badge, investigators said.

He approached Sifuentes and a woman outside Building 13 of the apartment complex, according to investigators.

The officer encountered Sifuentes near a playground and warned him about being too loud, prosecutors said.

Sifuentes became aggressive, pulled out a firearm and fired at least two shots toward the officer, striking him once in the arm, authorities said.

The officer returned fire, police said. Sifuentes was not struck.

Minutes later, officers located Sifuentes inside an apartment unit with several other people, authorities said.

Sifuentes and the other occupants eventually exited the unit, and investigators obtained a search warrant, police said.

During the search, authorities recovered evidence believed to be connected to the shooting, including the firearm suspected of being used against the officer.

Sifuentes was arrested and initially faced charges including attempted capital murder of a peace officer, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and obstruction or retaliation, records show.

The shooting was not the only violent incident prosecutors later presented to the court.

In June 2023, Sifuentes drove to Austin while intoxicated with several passengers, ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle, injuring multiple people, prosecutors said.

Sifuentes fled the crash and later displayed a firearm at a bystander who told him to return to the scene, authorities said.

In August 2023, just over a week before the officer was shot, Sifuentes was involved in another assault at a restaurant, prosecutors said.

During that incident, Sifuentes pulled a gun on patrons who were waiting for a table, according to authorities.

Sifuentes ultimately pleaded guilty to aggravated assault against a public servant in connection with the officer shooting and agreed to allow a judge to determine his punishment, court records show.

Under the plea agreement, the 25-year-old defendant faced between five and 50 years in prison, records show.

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors presented evidence about Sifuentes’ conduct before the shooting, including the intoxicated crash and the restaurant gun incident.

Several witnesses also testified on Sifuentes’ behalf, according to court records. One of those witnesses was his girlfriend, who prosecutors said fell in love with Sifuentes while he was incarcerated.

She brought her small children to visit him because she believed she could teach him “empathy,” authorities said.

On August 28, 2026, a judge sentenced Sifuentes to the maximum 50 years in prison for aggravated assault against a public servant, records show. The judge said her concern was protecting the community from Sifuentes.

Sifuentes was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for the separate restaurant offense in which he pulled a firearm on a married couple, court records show. Publicly available information does not specify whether that sentence will run concurrently with or consecutively to the 50-year sentence.

The defendant’s repeated violent behavior demonstrated that a lengthy prison sentence was necessary to protect the community, prosecutors said.

The officer Sifuentes shot has since recovered and returned to duty, authorities said.