A police officer who was shot several times during a gunfight with a father and son is still in critical condition, the Fort Worth, Texas, police department said Wednesday.
“He is an incredible fighter. Doctors believe that it is a good sign that (Officer Matthew Pearce) made it through the night,” the department tweeted.
Police have said he was shot multiple times. He is heavily sedated in the intensive care unit, the department said.
Pearce was involved in a traffic stop on Tuesday when the fugitive task force asked for a patrol car to pull over an SUV. Ed Russell McIver Sr., who was wanted on several felony warrants, and his son of the same name were inside. After the McIvers fled in an SUV, Pearce, a patrol officer who has been with the department for seven years, and other officers chased them.
The McIvers bailed in rural Tarrant County and ran. At some point they exchanged gunfire with the officers and the father was killed. Ed Russell McIver Jr. was captured without incident hours later near the scene of the shootout.
The father was wanted on charges of aggravated assault of a family member and for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Cpl. Tracey Knight said Tuesday. He also had two bail jumping warrants. A gun was found near him at the scene of the gunfight, Knight added.
McIver Jr. will be charged with attempted capital murder, evading arrest and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with Pearce’s medical expenses.