FORT WORTH - The undercover narcotics officer shot last week by a store clerk who mistook her for a masked robber may be permanently paralyzed from the waist down, Police Chief Ralph Mendoza said Tuesday.
Although medical officials are waiting to see whether further reduction in swelling may change the officer's condition, Mendoza said he was told there is a "good chance" the loss of feeling may be permanent.
"We're not positive," Mendoza said. "I tend to hold out hope. I'm kind of one of those optimists. I believe in miracles."
Officer Lisa Ramsey, who had not been identified by Fort Worth police until Tuesday, remains in serious condition at John Peter Smith Hospital.
The officer, brandishing a gun and wearing a mask, was shot Thursday evening as she entered the E-Z Food Store, 968 Elmwood Ave., to arrest a man who minutes before had sold drugs to undercover officers outside, police said.
Bao Nguyen, who was released after questioning Thursday night, said he shot the officer because he believed that she was an armed robber entering his family's store.
Mendoza said Ramsey's condition has improved significantly since the shooting.
He said medical personnel told him that Ramsey had to be revived twice, once at the scene of the shooting and again at the hospital. Mendoza also said that doctors had to remove a portion of the officer's lung.
"We knew initially that night there may be that chance of paralysis," Mendoza said. "The initial surgery was to save her life and do repairs immediately necessary to correct the damage the bullet had done."
Now, Mendoza said, Ramsey is conscious, talking and has movement
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/4898936.htm
It's really tragic. I Hope they recover fully.
Although medical officials are waiting to see whether further reduction in swelling may change the officer's condition, Mendoza said he was told there is a "good chance" the loss of feeling may be permanent.
"We're not positive," Mendoza said. "I tend to hold out hope. I'm kind of one of those optimists. I believe in miracles."
Officer Lisa Ramsey, who had not been identified by Fort Worth police until Tuesday, remains in serious condition at John Peter Smith Hospital.
The officer, brandishing a gun and wearing a mask, was shot Thursday evening as she entered the E-Z Food Store, 968 Elmwood Ave., to arrest a man who minutes before had sold drugs to undercover officers outside, police said.
Bao Nguyen, who was released after questioning Thursday night, said he shot the officer because he believed that she was an armed robber entering his family's store.
Mendoza said Ramsey's condition has improved significantly since the shooting.
He said medical personnel told him that Ramsey had to be revived twice, once at the scene of the shooting and again at the hospital. Mendoza also said that doctors had to remove a portion of the officer's lung.
"We knew initially that night there may be that chance of paralysis," Mendoza said. "The initial surgery was to save her life and do repairs immediately necessary to correct the damage the bullet had done."
Now, Mendoza said, Ramsey is conscious, talking and has movement
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/4898936.htm
It's really tragic. I Hope they recover fully.
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