May 3-- The Dallas Fire-Rescue paramedic who was shot in the line of duty is improving but still faces a long recovery.
Firefighter-paramedic William An was responding to a call and administering aid to a shooting victim when he was shot once in the arm and once in the leg by 36-year-old Derick Brown, who was later found dead in a nearby home after a massive neighborhood lockdown and search effort.
"Everything is looking up right now," Dallas Firefighters Association President Jim McDade told CBS 11.
CBS 11 said that An, an 11-year veteran with DFR, has already had three surgeries and will likely need a few more. An was being comforted by his wife Jayne, who is 18 weeks pregnant, and their 3-year-old son.
"By the grace of God, my husband is doing okay," Jayne An said in a statement. "We are greatly thankful for all the prayers sent our way. Please continue to pray for Will and keep him and our entire family in your prayers. Special thanks again to the first responders who risk their lives daily for others. God bless."
Police said Brown shot and killed his roommate, 67-year-old Arthur Riggins, inside his home along the 3200 block of Reynolds Ave. and then went outside and shot a 24-year-old man in the street. That man, whom An was trying to save, is now receiving treatment at Baylor University Medical Center -- the same facility where An remains in critical but stable condition in the ICU.
McDade said Tuesday that the police officer who put himself at risk to pull An to safety while the shooting continued, Sgt. Robert Watson, had gathered with him and his family at the hospital.
"It was an incredibly emotional moment for everybody involved. Our chief, Chief (David) Coatney was there and all of the guys who work with him were there also. It was a very touching moment for all of us."
McDade said that Monday's incident marked the first time in 30 years a firefighter-paramedic was shot in the line of duty and offered further proof of the close relationship between police and firefighters.
"There’s definitely a bond between Blue and Red. You go back to July 7 and what happened," McDade told CBS 11, referring to last summer's ambush attack that left five Dallas police dead. "Some of our guys attempted to save their lives and yesterday, they saved our lives."
