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Police and Law Enforcement

'It's a miracle': Minnesota police officer slowly recovering after being shot in the head

By Caleb Parke Fox News
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A Minnesota pastor is asking for continued prayers after the police officer who was shot in the head last week started showing small signs of life in his fight for recovery.

Waseca officer Arik Matson, 32, is still in critical condition in the hospital, but he has responded to questions by squeezing a finger or giving a thumbs-up sign, Hope Church pastor Kaleb Hurley said in a video update.

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“Make no mistake, … Arik still has a really long road ahead of him,” Hurley stated. "It's a miracle he's alive."

This undated handout photo provided by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, shows Waseca, Minn. Police Officer Arik Matson. Matson was shot in the head Monday night, Jan. 6, 2020 while responding to a report of a suspicious person in the small southern Minnesota city of in Waseca. Matson, 32, was in critical but stable condition Tuesday. (Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension via AP)

This undated handout photo provided by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, shows Waseca, Minn. Police Officer Arik Matson. Matson was shot in the head Monday night, Jan. 6, 2020 while responding to a report of a suspicious person in the small southern Minnesota city of in Waseca. Matson, 32, was in critical but stable condition Tuesday. (Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension via AP)

"We want to continue to ask God that God will preserve his life," the pastor added, "that Arik will be able to have a life that will be full and filled with relationships with his wife and children and his community."

The husband and father to two young girls was gravely wounded Jan. 6 as he and three officers responded to a call about a suspicious person roaming backyards in the city 70 miles south of Minneapolis, KSFY reported.

Tyler Janovsky, from Minnesota, was charged with three counts of attempted murder of a peace officer and possession of a firearm by an ineligible person on Wednesday after he shot  Matson in the head.

Hurley also created a GoFundMe page to help Matson's wife and two children with medical expenses and basic necessities. The page has raised over $170,000 as of Thursday, with a goal of $250,000.

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Matson, who is still facing a long road to recovery, has served as a police officer since 2013. He has also served as a SWAT team member, a city councilman and volunteer firefighter, according to CBS 4 in Minneapolis.